Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a gouache drawing by Romare Bearden. It dates from 1941 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1941, this gouache, ink, and pencil drawing on colored paper measures a modest scale yet commands attention through its vivid palette and clear compositional focus. The work belongs to the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it is displayed among other mid‑twentieth‑century American pieces.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents two standing figures facing one another. The figure on the left is clothed in a striking red garment, while the counterpart on the right wears a blue‑and‑white ensemble. Behind them a simple landscape of rolling hills, trees and a modest house suggests a shared environment, emphasizing the relational dynamic between the two subjects.
Technique & Style
Bearden combines gouache’s opacity with the fluidity of ink and the precision of pencil, layering these media on colored paper to achieve both texture and depth. Bold, confident lines delineate the figures and landscape, while the saturated hues of red, blue and green reinforce the work’s graphic intensity.
History & Provenance
Romare Bearden (1911–1988) began his artistic career illustrating scenes of the American South before his practice evolved after World War II service. This early drawing, produced before that shift, reflects his pre‑war visual language. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection through acquisition in the latter half of the twentieth century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Romare Howard Bearden (, ROH-mə-ree) (September 2, 1911 – March 12, 1988) was an American artist, author, and songwriter.
