Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a drawing by Thomas Hirschhorn. It dates from 1994 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1994, this work consists of ballpoint pen marks and a collage of printed paper affixed to cardboard, all enclosed in a clear synthetic polymer sleeve secured with tape. The composition presents a fragmented visual narrative, combining photographic imagery with textual elements and commercial branding.
Subject & Meaning
At its center, a photograph of a woman with long brown hair and a dog is juxtaposed with a Mercedes-Benz logo in the upper left and the phrase "Danke schön" rendered in irregular handwriting at the lower left. The contrast between personal, commercial, and linguistic fragments invites reflection on everyday visual culture and the layering of meaning.
Technique & Style
Hirschhorn employs a low‑tech, assemblage approach, cutting and pasting printed matter onto a cardboard substrate before outlining details with ballpoint pen. The work’s rough edges, visible tape, and the protective polymer sleeve emphasize its materiality and the artist’s interest in the aesthetic of the used and the provisional.
History & Provenance
Swiss-born Thomas Hirschhorn, trained in Zurich and based in Paris, produced the piece during the early phase of his career when he began concentrating on artmaking. Since its creation, the drawing has been exhibited in various institutions across Europe, the United States, and South America, reflecting Hirschhorn’s expanding international presence.
Context
The artwork aligns with Hirschhorn’s broader practice of constructing large‑scale installations from everyday objects, a method inspired by the conceptual strategies of Joseph Beuys and the pop‑culture engagement of Andy Warhol. The use of commonplace materials and commercial imagery situates the piece within a lineage of post‑modern critique of consumer society.
Artist & collection
Artist
Thomas Hirschhorn (born 16 May 1957) is a Swiss artist who lives and works in Paris.
