Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an acrylic painting by the Conceptual Art artist On Kawara. It dates from 1967 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 1967, this acrylic painting presents a solid red field punctuated by a single line of white block letters that read “MAY201967.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1967, this acrylic painting presents a solid red field punctuated by a single line of white block letters that read “MAY201967.” The date is rendered in a bold, uneven hand, its edges slightly blurred, giving the work a diary‑like immediacy. The piece belongs to a series in which the artist recorded the current date on canvas each day.
Subject & Meaning
The work functions as a temporal marker, foregrounding the passage of time through the literal inscription of a specific day. By isolating the date on a monochrome background, the artist invites viewers to contemplate the ordinary act of noting time, turning a routine record into a visual meditation on presence and absence.
Technique & Style
Applied with acrylic paint, the canvas is uniformly covered in a vivid red hue, providing a stark contrast to the white lettering. The letters are executed in a hand‑drawn, slightly smudged style, suggesting immediacy rather than formal precision. This minimalist approach aligns the piece with conceptual art’s emphasis on idea over decorative technique.
History & Provenance
The painting is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. It was produced during the artist’s early years in New York, a period that saw his daily date paintings gain recognition. The work has been exhibited in major venues, including the 1976 Venice Biennale, reflecting its significance within his oeuvre.
Context
Emerging in the late 1960s, the piece reflects the broader conceptual art movement’s interest in language, measurement, and the dematerialization of the art object. By reducing the canvas to a single, dated inscription, the artist engages with contemporary concerns about the documentation of everyday life and the role of the artist as recorder.
Artist & collection
Artist
On Kawara (河原温, Kawara On; January 2, 1933 – July 10, 2014) was a Japanese conceptual artist who lived in SoHo, New York City, from 1965 until his death.
