Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink drawing by Ung-no Lee. It dates from 1957 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 1957, this ink and colored‑ink drawing is mounted on a vertical paper scroll.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1957, this ink and colored‑ink drawing is mounted on a vertical paper scroll. A green patterned border frames a composition of black and brown brushstrokes that suggest trees and mountains, set against a light beige ground. Chinese characters appear at the bottom of the scroll.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a stylised landscape, employing bold, gestural strokes to render foliage and peaks. The inclusion of Chinese script hints at a textual element, linking the visual to East Asian calligraphic traditions while remaining abstracted from specific narrative content.
Technique & Style
Executed with traditional ink brushwork, the piece combines monochrome ink with subtle colored accents. The artist’s handling of brush and ink emphasizes spontaneous, expressive marks, while the scroll format and patterned border reference classical Korean and Chinese formats, merged with a modern, quasi‑abstract sensibility.
History & Provenance
The drawing was produced after the artist, originally trained in Korean ink painting, had settled in France and begun integrating Western compositional ideas. It entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on view.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lee Ungno (Korean: 이응노; January 12, 1904 – January 10, 1989) was a Korean-born French painter and printmaker whose works were chiefly focused on Eastern and Korean-style paintings.
