Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Robert Filliou. It dates from 1969 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled, a work by Robert Filliou dating from 1969, is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. Executed on brown paper, the piece combines crayon, ink stamps, pencil and cut‑and‑pasted printed elements, resulting in a hand‑made collage that resembles informal notes assembled on a wall.
Subject & Meaning
The composition is divided into three framed zones. The first contains a blue circle intersected by a wavy line; the second presents a crude crayon drawing of a face; the third features a small photograph of a man wearing a black hat, cut out from its background. The juxtaposition of abstract symbol, naïve sketch and photographic fragment suggests a playful investigation of image hierarchy.
Technique & Style
Filliou employed a mixed‑media approach: crayon and ink stamps create the graphic marks, while printed paper fragments are cut, pasted and sometimes further outlined with pencil. The work’s rough edges, visible cuts and uneven framing emphasize its collage nature and the artist’s interest in process over polished finish.
History & Provenance
Created in the late 1960s, a period when Filliou explored conceptual and participatory art, the piece entered MoMA’s holdings through acquisition (specific acquisition details are not recorded in the provided data). Its presence in the museum reflects the institution’s commitment to documenting experimental practices of that era.
Context
Filliou’s practice often blurred the boundaries between drawing, printmaking and ready‑made objects, aligning with the Fluxus movement’s emphasis on everyday materials and humor. Untitled exemplifies this ethos by treating simple marks and a found photograph as equal components of a single artwork.
Artist & collection
Artist
Robert Filliou was a French artist associated with Fluxus, who produced works as a filmmaker, action poet, sculptor, and happenings maestro.
Jain Manuscript: Kalakacarya Katha
Ființe fantastice printre ciulini
Compoziție
Siddende figur med fremstrakt arm
La margine de oraș
Imortele
Lacul Babadag
PORTRETUL MEU
Peisaj cu copaci printre care se văd acoperișurile gri și roșii. În dreapta, printre copaci, se ridică înalt turnul alb al unei biserici. În plan îndepărtat, blocuri, în spatele cărora se ridică furnale profilate pe un deal înalt albastru. Cerul învolburat albastru-violet. Copacii colorați în culorile toamnei. Semnat și datat cu negru, stânga jos: Craiu (19)70 ?.
Balcic
PEISAJ CU MUNȚI (SINAIA)
Ruine