Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Robert Smithson. It dates from 1966 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1966, this untitled work by Robert Smithson consists of cut‑and‑pasted printed paper combined with pencil marks on a paper support. It is classified as a drawing and forms part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. The composition presents a coastal scene where natural elements are juxtaposed with a solitary wooden cube placed on a cliff edge.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a rocky shoreline that meets a muted, gray sea beneath an unvarying sky. A simple wooden cube rests on the cliff’s lip, introducing an artificial element into an otherwise realistic landscape. The contrast invites contemplation of human intervention within natural settings, a recurring concern in Smithson’s practice.
Technique & Style
Smithson employed a collage method, cutting printed paper fragments and reassembling them to form the terrain, then adding pencil details to define texture and depth. The flat, graphic quality of the paper surfaces contrasts with the hand‑drawn lines, emphasizing the tension between reproduced imagery and direct mark‑making.
History & Provenance
The work was produced in the mid‑1960s, a period when Smithson was exploring site‑specific and earth‑art concepts. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings through acquisition (date of acquisition not specified), where it remains on view as part of the museum’s modern drawing collection.
Context
During the 1960s Smithson frequently incorporated photographs and found objects into his art, investigating the relationship between landscape and industrial artifacts. This drawing reflects that approach, using a fabricated wooden cube to disrupt the natural scene, echoing his broader interest in entropy and the alteration of environments.
Artist & collection
Artist
Robert Smithson was an American artist known for sculpture and land art who often used drawing and photography in relation to the spatial arts.
