Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an oil painting by the Abstract Expressionist artist John Tunnard. It dates from 1938 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
The composition is non‑representational, built from geometric and organic forms that intersect across a field of yellow and blue.
Created in 1938, this work by English modernist John Tunnard combines oil and tempera on a gesso‑primed board. The composition is non‑representational, built from geometric and organic forms that intersect across a field of yellow and blue. A prominent dark gray shape outlined in white, suggestive of a bird or aircraft, occupies the foreground, while a circular motif with a yellow centre and blue rim lies behind it.
Subject & Meaning
The painting offers no explicit narrative, instead evoking motion through contrasting colors and intersecting lines. Small red and blue dots and thin white strokes punctuate the surface, contributing to a sense of kinetic energy. The ambiguous central shape invites viewers to contemplate the relationship between natural and mechanical forms, reflecting Tunnard’s interest in the tension between organic and industrial visual vocabularies.
Technique & Style
Tunnard applied oil and tempera over a gessoed board, allowing for both the opacity of oil and the matte precision of tempera. The layered approach creates subtle surface texture, while the crisp outlines and flat color fields align the work with abstract expressionist tendencies prevalent in the late 1930s. The use of bold, saturated hues against muted tones underscores the artist’s exploration of visual rhythm.
History & Provenance
The piece entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on display. It was produced during a period when Tunnard was actively engaged in abstract composition and broader cultural debates, including his anti‑hunting activism. The work’s acquisition by MoMA reflects the institution’s early commitment to documenting the development of British modernism.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Samuel Tunnard (7 May 1900 – 12 December 1971) was an English modernist designer and abstract painter, and anti-hunting activist. He was the cousin of landscape architect Christopher Tunnard.
