Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Robert Gober. It dates from 1981 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Robert Gober’s 1981 pencil drawing, catalogued simply as Untitled, resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Executed on paper with graphite, the work measures only a modest size, yet its presence is marked by a stark, unembellished line drawing of a bathtub. The piece is presented without a frame of narrative, inviting viewers to consider the object in isolation.
Subject & Meaning
The floating, faint pencil marks above the tub evoke a sense of fleeting thought, hinting at the transitory nature of memory or routine.
The drawing depicts a bathtub rendered in a single, uneven contour, punctuated by a small internal divider. The absence of decorative detail reduces the fixture to its essential geometry, suggesting a focus on everyday objects as carriers of personal or psychological resonance. The floating, faint pencil marks above the tub evoke a sense of fleeting thought, hinting at the transitory nature of memory or routine.
Technique & Style
Gober employs a rapid, sketch‑like application of graphite, allowing the lines to vary in pressure and thickness. The uneven strokes and occasional stray marks convey a deliberately unfinished quality, as if the artist captured a momentary observation rather than a polished illustration. This approach aligns with a broader practice of using modest media to foreground the materiality of drawing itself.
History & Provenance
Created in 1981, the work entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings through a donation made in the early 2000s, reflecting MoMA’s interest in Gober’s early explorations of domestic forms. Since its acquisition, the drawing has been included in several exhibitions that examine the artist’s engagement with ordinary objects and the role of minimal gesture in contemporary drawing.
Artist & collection
Artist
Robert Gober is an American sculptor. His work is often related to domestic and familiar objects such as sinks, doors, and legs.
