Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a gouache drawing by Sidney Nolan. It dates from 1962 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1962, this drawing by Sidney Nolan combines metallic paint, crayon, and gouache on paper. It belongs to a period when Nolan moved beyond literal representation toward more abstract, emotionally charged compositions. Though untitled, its visual language suggests a narrative rooted in myth or memory, continuing his long engagement with Australian iconography through non-literal means.
Subject & Meaning
One figure holds a white strip, possibly a cloth or cord, introducing a thread of ambiguity—perhaps binding, mourning, or offering.
Three pale, elongated figures are entwined in a dark, swirling mass, their limbs extended as if in struggle or surrender. Each bears a small red mark on the chest, hinting at injury or ritual. One figure holds a white strip, possibly a cloth or cord, introducing a thread of ambiguity—perhaps binding, mourning, or offering. The composition evokes collective suffering or entrapment, abstracting themes of violence and endurance common in Nolan’s work.
Technique & Style
Nolan applied gouache thinly in places, creating translucent layers that reveal underlying marks, while metallic paint and crayon add sudden bursts of luminosity and texture. The background, rendered with rough, gestural strokes in deep blue, contrasts with the blurred, ghostly forms. The mix of media allows for both spontaneity and deliberate emphasis, reinforcing the tension between control and chaos in the image.
History & Provenance
This work emerged during a phase when Nolan was increasingly focused on psychological and symbolic expression, following his famous Ned Kelly series. It was likely made in London, where he lived intermittently from the 1950s onward, absorbing European modernist influences while retaining Australian themes. Its provenance traces to private collections in Australia and Europe before entering institutional holdings.
Context
In the early 1960s, Nolan was distancing himself from figurative storytelling, yet still drawing on national myths. This piece reflects broader postwar artistic trends toward abstraction and emotional intensity, while remaining tethered to the Australian landscape’s psychological weight. His use of simple, primal forms aligns with contemporaries exploring myth and trauma through reduced imagery.
Legacy
Though less known than his Kelly paintings, this work exemplifies Nolan’s enduring interest in the body as a vessel for collective memory. Its layered materials and ambiguous narrative influenced later Australian artists seeking to convey historical trauma without literal depiction. The piece remains a quiet but potent example of his transition from illustration to symbolic abstraction.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Sidney Robert Nolan (22 April 1917 – 28 November 1992) was one of the leading Australian artists of the 20th century.
