Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a crayon drawing by Robert Mothé. It dates from 1987 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1987, this untitled work by Robert Motherwell consists of conté crayon applied to a clear plastic support. The drawing is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection and exemplifies Motherwell’s engagement with gestural abstraction during the later phase of his career.
Subject & Meaning
The composition suggests a reclining figure rendered with minimal, sweeping strokes. The figure’s limbs are indicated by simple, intersecting lines, while brief orange touches hint at facial features and hands, inviting a reading that balances figurative suggestion with the artist’s interest in existential and literary concerns.
Technique & Style
Motherwell employed a soft conté crayon on a transparent sheet, allowing the pigment to glide and produce a loose, sketch‑like quality. The predominance of black and brown marks, contrasted with occasional orange accents, creates a stark visual hierarchy, while the expansive white space emphasizes the immediacy of the gesture.
History & Provenance
The drawing entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings after being acquired from the artist’s estate. Motherwell, a central figure of the New York School, was also active as a printmaker and edited the influential anthology *The Dada Painters and Poets*, situating this piece within his broader interdisciplinary practice.
Artist & collection
Artist
Robert Motherwell (January 24, 1915 – July 16, 1991) was an American abstract expressionist painter, printmaker, and editor of The Dada Painters and Poets: an Anthology.
