Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an oil painting by the Regionalist artist Alice Neel. It dates from 1935 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Alice Neel's 1935 oil-on-canvas painting, Untitled, is a figurative work created during a period when abstraction was prevalent. It is now part of The Museum of Modern Art's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a man sitting at a table, holding a red book and smoking a cigarette, with a skeleton behind him. The moody atmosphere and juxtaposition of the skeleton with the everyday scene may suggest themes of mortality and introspection.
Technique & Style
Neel employed chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of volume and depth in the composition. Her style was characterized by emotionally charged and psychologically acute depictions of people, prioritizing direct observation over prevailing stylistic trends.
Context
Untitled was created within the context of the Regionalist movement in America, which emphasized representation of the everyday and the local. Neel's work stood out for its focus on human subjects and its raw intensity.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alice Neel (January 28, 1900 – October 13, 1984) was an American visual artist. Recognized for her paintings of friends, family, lovers, poets, artists, and strangers, Neel is considered one of the greatest American…
