Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink drawing by Tom Otterness. It dates from 1984 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
This untitled drawing by Tom Otterness, dated 1984, is a pen and brown ink work on paper, specifically the cover of a spiral-bound sketchbook, housed in The Museum of Modern Art.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is the sketchbook's cover itself, highlighting its functional design elements: 'DESSIN'/'DRAWING', a stylized block 'P' logo, 'made in France', size, reference number, and the brand 'Sennelier Paris' with addresses, all in white on a dark blue-gray background.
Technique & Style
Otterness employs simple, clean pen and ink to faithfully render the cover's details, emphasizing the interplay between the sketchbook's blank potential and its existing structural markings, with the logo's geometric shapes subtly foreshadowing a structured approach to art.
History & Provenance
Created in 1984, the work is part of The Museum of Modern Art's collection, though the original sketchbook's provenance before Otterness's acquisition and alteration is not detailed here.
Context
While the original sketchbook's design (by Sennelier Paris) reflects a utilitarian, modern aesthetic common in art supplies of the time, Otterness's choice to draw it may comment on the relationship between the tool of art and the art itself.
Artist & collection
Artist
Tom Otterness is an American sculptor who is one of America's most prolific public artists.
