Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a charcoal drawing by Willem de Kooning. It dates from 1968 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1968, Untitled is a charcoal drawing on transparentized paper by Willem de Kooning, a key figure in the New York School of abstract expressionism.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a nude figure in a relaxed pose, with expressive facial and bodily gestures. The subject's tilted head, open mouth, and averted eyes convey a sense of introspection or distraction.
Technique & Style
De Kooning's use of charcoal emphasizes dynamic mark-making, with loose, bold lines and gestural strokes that evoke spontaneity and energy. The transparentized paper enhances the work's depth and texture.
History & Provenance
Part of de Kooning's later practice, this work aligns with the gestural abstraction characteristic of the post-WWII New York School movement, alongside artists like Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner.
Context
Untitled reflects de Kooning's exploration of abstract expressionist principles, prioritizing the process of creation over representational accuracy, yet here applied to a figurative subject.
Legacy
This drawing contributes to de Kooning's legacy in exploring the interplay between figuration and abstraction within the abstract expressionist movement.
Artist & collection
Artist
Willem de Kooning ( də KOO-ning, Dutch:; April 24, 1904 – March 19, 1997) was a Dutch-American abstract expressionist artist.
