Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Wilhelm Sasnal. It dates from 2003 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2003, this untitled drawing by Polish artist Wilhelm Sasnal consists of ink and pencil on paper. The work is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Rendered in stark black against a white surface, the piece presents a single figure whose head is that of a cat, rendered in bold, unmodulated lines.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a hybrid figure—human torso and cat head—holding a small object near the face with both hands raised. The cat’s eyes stare directly forward while the posture suggests tension or anticipation, evoking a sense of concealment or waiting. The ambiguous object, reminiscent of a phone or toy, adds an element of everyday mystery to the scene.
Technique & Style
Sasnal employs thick, unshaded contours drawn in ink, complemented by pencil marks that reinforce the graphic quality. The absence of tonal gradation emphasizes the flatness of the forms, creating a sketch‑like immediacy. The simplicity of the line work aligns with the artist’s broader practice of reducing complex subjects to stark, graphic silhouettes.
History & Provenance
The drawing was produced in 2003 and subsequently entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on view. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s interest in contemporary drawing practices and in Sasnal’s contribution to post‑communist Polish art.
Context
Sasnal’s oeuvre frequently explores everyday subjects rendered with a detached, observational tone. This untitled piece continues that approach, juxtaposing the familiar gesture of holding an object with an uncanny animal head, thereby questioning identity and the boundaries between the ordinary and the surreal.
Artist & collection
Artist
Wilhelm Sasnal is a Polish painter, photographer, poster artist, illustrator and filmmaker.
