Untitled
1919
gouache
From the collection of Museum of Modern Art
1919
gouache
From the collection of Museum of Modern Art
Untitled is a 1919 gouache by Man Ray, held at Museum of Modern Art.
This painting shows two odd, floating shapes that look like a teapot and a fan. They’re connected by wavy lines that stretch across a beige background. On the left side, there’s a red vertical ruler with numbers like a measuring stick. The words "Abandon or Try" are written in pencil at the top right, and the whole scene feels a bit like a puzzle. The fan and teapot aren’t realistic—they’re simplified and slightly blurry, like shadows. The artist used airbrush and ink to make it look almost like a sketch mixed with a diagram. If this style intrigues you, try looking up gouache to see how artists use it.
