Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Richard Artschwager. It dates from 1993 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1993, this untitled work by Richard Artschwager consists of a pencil and ink drawing executed on both sides of a sheet of paper.
Created in 1993, this untitled work by Richard Artschwager consists of a pencil and ink drawing executed on both sides of a sheet of paper. The composition presents two rectangular forms stacked vertically, the upper one smaller and pierced by a central aperture, the lower one broader with faint interior markings. Scattered numerical annotations indicate dimensions, suggesting a schematic study rather than a finished illustration.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing functions as a visual investigation of basic architectural or furniture elements, reducing them to simple geometric volumes. By annotating the forms with measurements, Artschwager foregrounds the process of design and the tension between functional object and abstract representation, inviting viewers to consider how everyday structures can be reduced to diagrammatic language.
Technique & Style
Executed with light pencil strokes and precise ink lines, the work balances spontaneity with meticulous drafting. The minimal visual vocabulary—rectilinear shapes, a single cutout, and sparse interior lines—reflects the artist’s alignment with Minimalist reduction, while the inclusion of textual data recalls Conceptual art’s emphasis on idea over visual finish.
History & Provenance
The piece entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of post‑mid‑20th‑century American art. Its acquisition underscores MoMA’s interest in works that document the intersection of drawing, design, and contemporary artistic practice.
Context
Artschwager’s career spanned painting, illustration, and sculpture, and his practice often engaged with Pop Art’s everyday imagery, Conceptual art’s intellectual strategies, and Minimalism’s formal restraint. This drawing exemplifies those convergences, serving as a study that bridges representational draftsmanship and abstract, idea‑driven art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Richard Ernst Artschwager (December 26, 1923 – February 9, 2013) was an American painter, illustrator and sculptor. His work has associations with Pop Art, Conceptual art and Minimalism.
