Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an oil drawing by Robert Mothé. It dates from 1979 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 1979, this oil on paper work by Robert Motherwell belongs to the later phase of his career.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1979, this oil on paper work by Robert Motherwell belongs to the later phase of his career. The composition is dominated by a central, hazy oval rendered in muted tones, surrounded by vigorous, irregular black strokes that convey a sense of immediacy. The piece is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
Subject & Meaning
The central oval, rendered with soft edges rather than a solid mass, suggests an ambiguous, perhaps psychological presence, while the surrounding jagged lines introduce tension. Motherwell’s interest in philosophical and existential concerns often manifested through such abstract forms, inviting viewers to contemplate the interplay between void and gesture.
Technique & Style
Executed with oil on paper, the artist employed a thick, impasto application that gives the black strokes a tactile, three‑dimensional quality. The rapid, uneven brushwork contrasts with the smudged, blended oval, highlighting Motherwell’s blend of gestural abstraction and controlled surface treatment.
History & Provenance
The work was produced during Motherwell’s mature period, when he was simultaneously active in printmaking and writing about Dadaist ideas. After its creation, the piece entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on view as part of the institution’s representation of abstract expressionist 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.
