Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by William Anastasi. It dates from 1966 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1966, this untitled drawing by William Anastasi consists of pencil marks on a sheet of transparentized paper. The work is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. It presents a schematic representation of a plaster block, rendered with measured dimensions and accompanying construction notes, inviting viewers to consider the translation from drawing to three‑dimensional object.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a modest, irregularly shaped block of plaster, its surface suggested through subtle line work that conveys cracks and texture. Below the sketch, Anastasi includes written instructions for assembling an actual plaster box, blurring the line between documentation and instruction and prompting reflection on the relationship between representation and fabrication.
Technique & Style
Executed in light pencil on yellowish, transparentized paper, the drawing relies on cross‑hatching and layered strokes to generate a sense of volume and depth. Measurements are annotated in inches, reinforcing a technical, almost architectural quality. The restrained palette and sketch‑like quality emphasize process over finish.
History & Provenance
The piece was produced in the mid‑1960s, a period when Anastasi explored minimal interventions and conceptual strategies. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings shortly after its creation, where it remains on view as part of the institution’s representation of post‑war American drawing.
Context
Anastasi’s work often interrogates the boundaries between art and instruction, echoing contemporary concerns with systems, language, and the materiality of everyday objects. This drawing aligns with his broader practice of reducing visual content to essential information, situating it within the conceptual art movements of the 1960s.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Anastasi was an American visual artist working in a wide range of media including drawing, painting, sculpture, photographic works, and text.
