Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Wyndham Lewis in 1920.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Museum of Modern Art.

Artwork

Untitled

Wyndham Lewis , 1920

Untitled is a watercolor drawing by Wyndham Lewis. It dates from 1920 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

About this work

Overview

Untitled (1920) is a pencil and watercolor drawing on paper by Percy Wyndham Lewis, a key figure in the Vorticist movement. The work is characterized by loose, expressive lines and a muted color palette, focusing attention on a central, partially obscured figure.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a man in a wide-brimmed hat and dark coat with a light scarf. His face is notably blurred, with only eyes and nose faintly discernible, suggesting a prioritization of the figure's presence over individual identity.

Technique & Style

Lewis employed quick, loose pencil lines and watery watercolor washes to create a sketch-like immediacy, implying a rapid capture of a moment. The pale background wash further emphasizes the central figure.

History & Provenance

Created in 1920, the drawing is now part of The Museum of Modern Art's collection, reflecting Lewis's multidisciplinary influence as a writer, painter, critic, and co-founder of Vorticism.

Context

Within Lewis's broader oeuvre, which includes editing the Vorticist magazine Blast and writing novels, Untitled exemplifies the movement's emphasis on dynamic, modernist representation, though its subjectivity and blur contrast with typical Vorticist angularity.

Legacy

As a work by a pivotal modernist, Untitled contributes to the historical record of Vorticism's visual experimentation, while its sketch-like quality offers insight into Lewis's creative process.

Artist & collection

Artist

Wyndham Lewis

Percy Wyndham Lewis (18 November 1882 – 7 March 1957) was a Canadian-born British writer, painter and critic.

Museum

Museum of Modern Art

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