Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an oil painting by the Abstract Expressionist artist Richard Diebenkorn. It dates from 1963 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1963, this oil on canvas work by Richard Diebenkorn belongs to the period when the artist was exploring abstract expressionist ideas. The composition combines a recognizable interior fragment—a corner of a room—with a vivid, non‑representational background, illustrating the transitional nature of his practice before he moved toward stricter geometric abstraction.
Subject & Meaning
The painted scene depicts a domestic corner: a brown floor, a white shelf bearing folded garments, a cup and a box, while the wall behind bursts with a saturated blue field punctuated by irregular circles and earthy red‑brown strokes. The juxtaposition of everyday objects with an expressive, almost lyrical wall surface suggests a dialogue between the tangible and the emotive, inviting viewers to consider how ordinary space can become a field for visual feeling.
Technique & Style
Diebenkorn applied the paint thickly, employing an impasto technique that gives the surface a palpable texture.
Diebenkorn applied the paint thickly, employing an impasto technique that gives the surface a palpable texture. The brushwork is vigorous and uneven, leaving raw edges and layered color fields that resist a smooth finish. This tactile approach, combined with bold chromatic contrasts, aligns the piece with the gestural vigor characteristic of abstract expressionism while hinting at the compositional openness that would later inform his more structured abstractions.
History & Provenance
The canvas entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s ongoing commitment to documenting the evolution of mid‑20th‑century American painting, particularly the work of artists who navigated the shift from pure abstraction toward more considered spatial arrangements.
Artist & collection
Artist
Richard Diebenkorn (April 22, 1922 – March 30, 1993) was an American painter and printmaker.
