Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a gouache drawing by Romare Bearden. It dates from 1936 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 1936, this paper drawing combines crayon, gouache, ink and colored pencil.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1936, this paper drawing combines crayon, gouache, ink and colored pencil. The composition presents a solitary figure moving away from the viewer, his back turned, clutching a bow and a quiver of arrows. The uniform he wears bears the stark lettering “WAR,” while the muted horizon suggests a shoreline or beach setting. The work belongs to the Museum of Modern Art’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The lone soldier, isolated against a faint horizon, evokes the anticipation of conflict. The explicit “WAR” on his attire and the archaic weaponry juxtapose modern militarism with older symbols of combat, prompting reflection on the looming presence of violence and its psychological weight.
Technique & Style
Bearden employed a mixed-media approach, layering crayon’s texture with the fluidity of ink, the opacity of gouache, and the precision of colored pencil. This combination yields a sketch‑like surface where line and wash coexist, allowing both bold outlines and subtle tonal shifts that define the figure and background.
History & Provenance
Romare Bearden, born in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1911, produced this early work before his later fame for collage and painting. After its creation, the drawing entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on view as part of the institution’s holdings of early 20th‑century American art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Romare Howard Bearden (, ROH-mə-ree) (September 2, 1911 – March 12, 1988) was an American artist, author, and songwriter.
