Untitled
1954
graphite
From the collection of Museum of Modern Art
1954
graphite
From the collection of Museum of Modern Art
This painting is just a big, solid black shape on a white background. The edges are uneven, like someone drew a blob with a ruler. Inside, there are faint, wispy lines—almost like scratches or ghostly marks—but they don’t really stand out. The whole thing looks simple, but the black isn’t flat. It has a slight texture, like the paper underneath is peeking through in places. The white border is clean, making the black shape pop even more. If you like this, check out Ellsworth Kelly.