Artwork

Untitled

Untitled, by Catherine Murphy, graphite, 1979
Untitled, by Catherine Murphy, graphite, 1979

Untitled is a graphite drawing by Catherine Murphy. It dates from 1979 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

About this work

The calendar is for January 1979, with a small landscape picture of a village and mountains above the dates.

This drawing shows a door with a calendar pinned to it. The calendar is for January 1979, with a small landscape picture of a village and mountains above the dates. The door has a brass handle and looks slightly worn.

The calendar hangs crookedly, with the paper curling at the edges. The pencil lines are precise, showing every detail of the door’s wood grain and the calendar’s tiny print.

Look up cross-hatching next to see how artists build shadows with lines.

Overview

Untitled, a 1979 pencil drawing by Catherine Murphy, is part of The Museum of Modern Art's collection. The work depicts a mundane scene with meticulous detail.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing focuses on a worn door with a brass handle, upon which a January 1979 calendar is crookedly pinned. The calendar features a small landscape of a village and mountains, contrasting the ordinary setting with a glimpse of natural scenery.

Technique & Style

Murphy employs precise pencil lines to capture intricate details, including the door's wood grain and the calendar's tiny print. The technique suggests a potential use of cross-hatching to build nuanced shadows.

History & Provenance

Created in 1979, the work is currently held in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art, though its acquisition history is not detailed here.

Context

The specific context of its creation is not provided, but the everyday subject matter situates it within a tradition of observational drawing, focusing on the commonplace.

Legacy

The drawing's legacy is not explicitly outlined, but its presence in a major museum collection implies recognition of its contribution to contemporary drawing practices.

Untitled
Untitled, Yutaka Matsuzawa

Artist & collection

Artist

Catherine Murphy

Catherine Murphy is an American realist painter whose career began with the inclusion of her work in the 1971 Annual Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

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

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Catherine Murphy in 1979.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Museum of Modern Art.