Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a charcoal drawing by Patricia Johanson. It dates from 1978 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
The artist has used a range of techniques, including hatching and cross-hatching, to create texture and depth in the image.
This image is a black-and-white drawing of an animal, possibly a lizard or salamander, with a long tail and short legs. The animal has a mottled pattern of light and dark spots on its body, with a distinctive shape to its head and tail.
The drawing is done in a simple, expressive style, with bold lines and minimal detail. The artist has used a range of techniques, including hatching and cross-hatching, to create texture and depth in the image.
The drawing is signed by the artist, Patricia Johanson, and dated 1978. It is part of the collection of The Museum of Modern Art. If you're interested in learning more about the artist's use of cross-hatching, you might want to explore more of her work.
Overview
Patricia Johanson’s 1978 drawing, titled Untitled, is executed in ink, charcoal, and pencil on paper. The work belongs to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it is catalogued as a drawing. It bears the artist’s signature and date on the surface, confirming its authorship and year of creation.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a solitary amphibian or reptile, rendered with a long, tapering tail and short limbs. Its body is covered in a mottled pattern of light and dark spots, suggesting camouflage. The creature’s stylized head and tail give it a distinctive silhouette, inviting contemplation of form and natural adaptation.
Technique & Style
Johanson employs a restrained, expressive approach, using bold contour lines to define the animal’s outline. A variety of hatching and cross‑hatching techniques generate texture and tonal variation, creating depth without elaborate detail. The limited palette of black and white emphasizes line work and surface modulation.
History & Provenance
Created in 1978, the drawing entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings shortly after its completion, though the precise acquisition details are not publicly recorded. It remains part of MoMA’s drawing collection, accessible for study and exhibition.
Context
During the late 1970s, Johanson’s practice explored the intersection of drawing and environmental themes, often focusing on natural forms. This work aligns with that period’s interest in minimal yet evocative representations of fauna, reflecting broader artistic dialogues about nature and abstraction.
Artist & collection
Artist
Patricia Johanson was an American artist. Johanson is known for her large-scale art projects that create aesthetic and practical habitats for humans and wildlife. She designed her functional art projects, created with…
