Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a charcoal drawing by Sam Szafran. It dates from 1966 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1966, this charcoal drawing by French artist Sam Szafran captures a solitary figure seated on a chair. Rendered on paper with stark, gestural lines, the composition presents a back‑turned subject whose posture suggests fatigue or contemplation. The work resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, reflecting Szafran’s interest in everyday moments rendered with immediacy.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is depicted in a slumped pose, one arm resting on the chair’s armrest, conveying a sense of withdrawal or introspection. By omitting facial details and focusing on the silhouette, the drawing invites viewers to project their own narratives onto the anonymous sitter, emphasizing themes of solitude and the quiet interiority of ordinary life.
Technique & Style
Szafran employed heavy charcoal shading to model the folds of clothing and the curvature of the body, using uneven, rapid strokes that lend the piece a raw, unfinished quality. The paper’s rough edges and the visible texture of the medium accentuate the immediacy of the gesture, aligning the work with a sketch‑like approach that prioritizes atmosphere over precise rendering.
History & Provenance
Sam Szafran (1934–2019) produced this work during a prolific period in the mid‑1960s when he explored drawing as a means of documenting fleeting moments. The piece entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of mid‑century European drawing, underscoring Szafran’s lasting relevance within modern art archives.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sam Szafran (19 November 1934 – 14 September 2019) was a French artist. He has been buried in the cimetière parisien de Bagneux.
