1914
charcoal
paper
From the collection of Museum of Modern Art
Untitled is a 1914 charcoal by Man Ray, held at Museum of Modern Art.
This drawing shows a tangled mess of lines and shapes. Wavy, uneven lines twist across the page, some forming rough rectangles like fences or buildings. Small crosses and dots pop up along the lines, as if marking spots or adding texture. The whole thing looks like a sketch of a chaotic, crumbling landscape—maybe hills or streets—drawn in quick, rough strokes. The artist used charcoal to build up layers, smudging and scratching to create depth. The lines don’t quite connect, making it feel unfinished or half-erased. It’s more about the messy energy than clear shapes. Next, check out scumbling to see how artists use similar scratchy techniques.
Man Ray (born Emmanuel Radnitzky; August 27, 1890 – November 18, 1976) was an American-born, French-naturalized visual artist who spent most of his career in Paris.
See the richer artist page
