Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Vladimir Nikolaevich Nemukhin in 1966.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Museum of Modern Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Social Realism.

Artwork

Untitled

Vladimir Nikolaevich Nemukhin , 1966

Untitled is an oil painting by the Social Realist artist Vladimir Nikolaevich Nemukhin. It dates from 1966 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1966, this untitled canvas combines oil, tempera and a collage of playing cards. The composition centers on a large, cross‑shaped arrangement of the cards, set against a muted, dark background that accentuates the assembled forms. The work is classified as a still‑life within the broader context of Soviet social realism and belongs to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

Subject & Meaning

The focal point is a geometric cross built from playing cards laid out in a grid, some overlapping, producing a sense of depth. By employing everyday objects associated with chance and leisure, the piece subtly interrogates notions of order, randomness and the symbolic weight of the cross within a seemingly ordinary still‑life setting.

Technique & Style

Nemukhin integrates traditional painting media, oil and tempera, with a collage of actual playing cards, each varying in size and hue. The juxtaposition of painted surface and the tactile texture of the cards creates a layered visual field, while the dark tonal backdrop heightens the contrast between the painted ground and the three‑dimensional collage elements.

History & Provenance

Vladimir Nemukhin, born in 1925, was a prominent figure in the Lianozovo Group, a circle of Soviet artists that included Oscar Rabin and others. The painting entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings, where it remains part of the institution’s permanent collection.

Context

Produced during a period when Soviet artists were navigating the expectations of social realism, Nemukhin’s use of unconventional materials signals a quiet departure from strict ideological prescriptions. The work reflects the Lianozovo Group’s interest in personal expression and experimental techniques within the constraints of the era.

Artist & collection

Artist

Vladimir Nikolaevich Nemukhin

Vladimir Nikolaevich Nemukhin (Russian: Владимир Николаевич Немухин; February 12, 1925 in village Priluki, Kaluga Oblast, RSFSR, USSR – April 18, 2016 Moscow, Russia) was a Russian artist.