Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Peter Hutchinson. It dates from 1969 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1969, this mixed-media drawing combines cut-and-pasted chromogenic photographs, felt‑tip pen, and pencil on a sheet of lined paper that has been mounted on a backing sheet. The composition consists of handwritten annotations and two small photographic fragments that document the condition of a pair of calabash gourds before and after they were opened.
Subject & Meaning
The work records a simple, tactile investigation of natural objects: five green‑yellow gourds tied together in an arc and a single gourd broken and floating in water, its interior exposed. The accompanying notes describe the gourds’ appearance prior to being cut and the changes observed afterward, suggesting an interest in transformation and the passage of time.
Technique & Style
Hutchinson employs a collage approach, integrating chromogenic prints with hand‑drawn elements. The use of felt‑tip pen and pencil adds a personal, documentary quality, while the lined paper surface evokes a notebook or field journal, reinforcing the work’s observational tone.
History & Provenance
The piece is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Hutchinson, a British‑born artist who later worked in the United States, is noted for his early contributions to Land Art and for blending narrative, conceptual, and mixed‑media practices throughout his career.
Context
Produced during a period when Hutchinson was exploring the relationship between photography, text, and natural materials, the drawing reflects his broader interest in subjective experience and experimental documentation. The inclusion of a museum exhibition reference indicates the work’s connection to contemporary art institutions of the late 1960s.
Artist & collection
Artist
Peter Arthur Hutchinson (4 March 1930 – 26 June 2025) was a British-born artist who lived in the United States.
