Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Robert Whitman. It dates from 1962 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1962, this paper drawing by Robert Whitman portrays a stylized human brain. The central motif occupies the middle of the sheet, its left hemisphere turned toward the viewer, while the surrounding paper carries a warm, pale yellow ground. The work is part of the collection at the Museum of Modern Art.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing focuses on the anatomical form of a brain, rendered as an abstracted surface rather than a scientific illustration. By covering the organ with vivid, non‑representational color fields, Whitman suggests the interplay of thought, perception, and emotional response, inviting viewers to contemplate the interior landscape of cognition.
Technique & Style
Whitman employed graphite pencil to outline the brain’s contours, then applied crayon in loose, gestural strokes of red, blue, green and yellow. The colors are layered loosely, creating a sense of movement and spontaneity. The combination of precise line work with expressive pigment reflects a hybrid approach between drawing and informal painting.
History & Provenance
The piece was produced in the early 1960s, a period when Whitman was exploring experimental media and visual language. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings through acquisition (or donation) after its creation, where it remains on view as part of the institution’s representation of mid‑century American drawing.
Artist & collection
Artist
Robert Whitman was an American artist best known for his seminal theater pieces of the early 1960s combining visual and sound images, actors, film, slides, and evocative props in environments of his own making.
