Artwork

Untitled

Untitled, by Ung-no Lee, ink, 1959
Untitled, by Ung-no Lee, ink, 1959

Untitled is an ink drawing by Ung-no Lee. It dates from 1959 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

About this work

Overview

Untitled, a 1959 drawing by Ung-no Lee, combines colored inks on paper to depict a dynamic scene of a rider on a bull-like animal, executed with expressive brushwork.

Subject & Meaning

The subject, a rider leaning forward on a bull-like creature, conveys a sense of movement and tension. The sparse background emphasizes the central action, suggesting a focus on the emotional and physical dynamics between rider and animal.

Technique & Style

Lee's quasi-abstract style merges Eastern brushwork traditions with Western compositional elements. Quick, bold, dark ink strokes contrast with lighter areas, capturing the kinetic energy of the scene and implying swift motion.

History & Provenance

Created in 1959, this work reflects Lee's 1950s experimentation in France, blending his Korean inkwash training with Western techniques learned in Japan, during a period of exploring Korean-style painting abroad.

Context

Reflecting Lee's transnational artistic journey, *Untitled* embodies the post-war era's cultural exchange, where artists integrated diverse techniques to forge innovative, globally informed styles.

Legacy

As part of Lee's oeuvre, *Untitled* contributes to the understanding of mid-20th-century artists who navigated multiple cultural influences, though its specific impact or notable exhibitions are not detailed here.

Artist & collection

Artist

Ung-no Lee

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.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Museum of Modern Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.