Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Vasili Elkin. It dates from 1928 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1928, this untitled work by Vasili Elkin is a mixed-media drawing that combines cut and pasted printed and coloured paper with pencil marks. The composition is assembled from newspaper fragments, coloured scraps and a small photographic portrait, forming a vertically elongated, skeletal figure. The piece is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a slender, tower‑like form whose outstretched arms resemble a bridge or scaffolding. Over these limbs are pasted fragments of buildings and blocks of text, including Russian lettering such as the word “ПРОМИЗВО,” suggesting an association with industry. The juxtaposition of human silhouette and urban typographic elements hints at the mechanisation of the modern body.
Technique & Style
Elkin constructs the image through collage, layering newspaper clippings, coloured paper and a small photograph onto a paper support, then adding pencil lines to define contours. Red ink strokes cut across the surface, while dense typographic patterns create texture reminiscent of industrial signage. The overall effect is rough, fragmented, and evocative of early Soviet constructivist aesthetics.
History & Provenance
The work dates to the late 1920s, a period when Elkin was experimenting with graphic collage in Russia. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings as part of a mid‑20th‑century acquisition of Soviet avant‑garde works, though the exact path of ownership before MoMA is not documented in public records.
Context
Produced during a time of rapid industrialisation in the Soviet Union, the piece reflects contemporary concerns about the relationship between humanity and machinery. Its use of newspaper and printed matter aligns with constructivist practices that sought to integrate everyday visual culture into fine art, emphasizing the materiality of mass‑produced media.
Artist & collection
