Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink drawing by Raymond Pettibon. It dates from 1990 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1990, this paper drawing by Raymond Pettibon combines black ink with colored ink, primarily red, to render a stark, monochrome composition. A pale, almost spectral figure dominates the center, its hair rendered in jagged, wavy red strokes that contrast sharply with the surrounding darkness. The work is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection.
Subject & Meaning
Accompanying the image are fragments of handwritten text, rendered in uneven, hurried lettering that conveys a range of emotions from anger to melancholy.
The central apparition appears as a ghostly presence, its elongated red hair suggesting both vitality and injury. Accompanying the image are fragments of handwritten text, rendered in uneven, hurried lettering that conveys a range of emotions from anger to melancholy. The juxtaposition of visual and textual elements evokes an inner turmoil, hinting at themes of pain, confusion, and mental confinement.
Technique & Style
Pettibon employs ink on paper, allowing for swift, gestural marks that give the red hair a scar‑like, cut appearance. The black background is achieved through dense ink washes, creating a high‑contrast field that isolates the figure. Handwritten captions are integrated directly into the surface, their irregular strokes reinforcing the work’s raw, immediate quality.
History & Provenance
Emerging from Pettibon’s early involvement with the Southern California punk scene of the 1980s, this 1990 drawing marks a period when the artist was transitioning into the broader fine‑art market. The piece was acquired by the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on view as part of the institution’s collection of contemporary drawing.
Artist & collection
Artist
Raymond Pettibon (born Raymond Ginn, June 16, 1957) is an American artist who lives and works in New York City.
