Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an oil drawing by Santiago Cárdenas. It dates from 1991 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled, executed in 1991, is a mixed-media work on cardboard that combines synthetic polymer paint, oil paint, oil pastel and colored pencil. The piece is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art and is catalogued as a drawing despite its painterly elements.
Subject & Meaning
The composition consists of a dark blue field overlaid with faint, sketchy white lines that suggest two standing figures. The forms are reduced to basic shapes, with one arm extended and the other appearing to grasp a small circular object, evoking a sense of ambiguous interaction.
Technique & Style
Cárdenas employs a loose, pastel‑like application that leaves the marks appearing unfinished, as if drawn in a moment of spontaneity. The chalky strokes merge with the background, creating a ghostly effect that blurs the boundary between drawing and painting.
History & Provenance
Created in the early 1990s, the work entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its completion, where it has been displayed as part of exhibitions exploring contemporary drawing practices.
Context
During this period, Cárdenas was investigating the relationship between simple gestural marks and the perception of volume and space. Untitled reflects his interest in how minimal lines can suggest human presence within an abstracted field.
Artist & collection
