Untitled 1976

This untitled drawing by Richard Artschwager presents a stark composition of everyday objects rendered in simple black lines against a white background. The image is dominated by minimalist representations of a door, a table, and a few other household items, each existing independently within the frame. This fragmented arrangement disrupts any conventional sense of space. Artschwager’s strategic placement and the reductive quality of his lines challenge our perception of reality versus representation. This interplay between the object and its representation suggests the semiotic theory that meaning is derived from the relationships between signs, rather than inherent qualities. The drawing prompts us to consider how our understanding of the world is mediated through signs and symbols. Ultimately, the formal arrangement invites us to reconsider the boundaries between art and the everyday, and to recognize that meaning is not fixed but constantly negotiated through the act of viewing and interpreting.