Untitled
1964
graphite
From the collection of Museum of Modern Art
1964
graphite
From the collection of Museum of Modern Art
Untitled is a 1964 graphite by Ernst Neizvestny, held at Museum of Modern Art.
This sketch shows a face in profile, but it’s not quite right—one side of the head is stretched into a messy, tangled mess of lines and shapes. The other side looks more normal, with a nose, lips, and a hint of a jaw. The drawing is all in pencil and ink, with heavy shading that makes some parts look dark and rough. The weird mix of smooth and messy lines is the point—it feels like the artist was playing with how we see faces. The signature in the corner says it’s by Ernst Neizvestny, and it’s from 1964. If this style intrigues you, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build texture with lines.
