Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a tempera painting by the Abstract Expressionist artist Roberto Matta. It dates from 1952 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled is a 1952 tempera on canvas painting by Roberto Matta, a Chilean artist associated with Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism. The work is part of The Museum of Modern Art's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a twisted, skeletal figure with hollow eyes on the left, accompanied by a fluttering red cloth. To the right, a bright orange line traverses a chaotic background of indistinct buildings and scattered marks, creating a sense of dynamic tension.
Technique & Style
Matta's use of tempera, a pigment mixed with egg yolk, results in rough, layered brushstrokes. The predominantly muted color palette is punctuated by the red and orange hues, which create visual contrast.
Context
Matta's work bridges Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism, reflecting his influence across 20th-century art in the Americas and Europe. The painting's abstract, expressive forms and psychological depth are characteristic of his style.
Artist & collection
Artist
Roberto Antonio Sebástian Matta-Echaurren (Spanish: ; November 11, 1911 – November 23, 2002), usually known simply as Matta, also as Sebastián Matta or Roberto Matta, was one of Chile's best-known painters and figures…
