Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink drawing by Renato Guttuso. It dates from 1949 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
The lines are thick in some places, thin in others, giving the animal weight and motion.
You see a bull charging across a sheet of paper, drawn in quick, dark ink lines.
Guttuso made this in 1949, right after World War II. The bull feels raw and urgent—like a sketch done in one sitting. The lines are thick in some places, thin in others, giving the animal weight and motion. It’s not a polished study; it’s more like a thought caught on paper.
To see how other artists used fast, bold lines, look up cross-hatching.
Overview
Untitled is a 1949 drawing by Renato Guttuso, created using ink on paper. It is part of The Museum of Modern Art's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a charging bull, conveyed through swift and expressive ink lines that capture the animal's energy and movement.
Technique & Style
The work's loose, gestural quality is achieved through varying line widths, with thicker and thinner strokes used to convey the bull's weight and dynamism.
Context
Created in the aftermath of World War II, the drawing's raw, unpolished character may reflect the artist's immediate response to the events of the time.
Artist & collection
Artist
Aldo Renato Guttuso was an Italian painter and politician. He is considered to be among the most important Italian artists of the 20th century and is among the key figures of Italian expressionism. His art is…
