Untitled
1969
graphite
From the collection of Museum of Modern Art
1969
graphite
From the collection of Museum of Modern Art
Untitled is a 1969 graphite by William Anastasi, held at Museum of Modern Art.
This painting shows eight small, quick sketches of birds in flight. They’re drawn in loose, dark lines on a light, almost beige background. Some birds look like they’re gliding, while others seem to be diving or turning sharply. The lines are uneven, as if drawn fast by hand. The birds are all on two sheets of thin, see-through paper. This lets you see faint marks from the other side, like ghostly shadows. The artist used pencil, not paint, so the lines feel sketchy and alive. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build shapes with layers of lines.
