Student Artwork Guide

Name Class Date

Ethel N. Adnan, Untitled (1970). Reproduced for reference; rights reserved by the rights holder. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist: Ethel N. Adnan originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/ethel-n-adnan/
Artist’s dates: 1925 – 2021
Painted: 1970
Original size: 24 x 30 cm
Movement: Abstract Expressionism Large canvases where the act of painting itself — the drip, the sweep — is the subject.

Copyright This work is still under copyright. Ethel N. Adnan died in 2021; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it remains in force until 2091. The image is shown here for classroom reference; rights remain with the rights holder.

Untitled — Ethel N. Adnan

How big is it?

The original measures 24 × 30 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

first works
late works

1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020

04
514
1524
2534
3544
4554
5564
6574
7584
8594
9596

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 96 at death.

Painted when the artist was 45. The artist lived to 96. 1 of the 8 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Ethel N. Adnan (1925–2021) ▲ this work, 1970 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1970 Main working years: 1970–2008 Late works: from 2008

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Autumn in Yosemite Valley originaluniqueart.com/en/art/ethel-n-adnan-autumn-in-yosemite-valley-D4GGUE-en/
Unknown, 1900 originaluniqueart.com/en/art/ethel-n-adnan-unknown-D7SSXK-en/
Al-Hallaj, Qasaid, 2008 originaluniqueart.com/en/art/ethel-n-adnan-al-hallaj-qasaid-D7967R-en/

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/ethel-n-adnan-untitled-D2NHZQ-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

Main colour

Putty #ccc9b0

Catalogued palette

#CCC9B0
#E3EBDE
#D4A744
#655058

These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

Palette: Pastels The dominant colour family in the image.
Main colour name: Putty
Intensity: Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
Contrast: Serene How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
Harmony: Softly Mixed Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
Brightness: Brilliant How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
Saturation: Muted How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

Where in the world is this painting looked at?

under 1%
1–3%
3–8%
8–20%
20% and over

This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Ethel N. Adnan over the last twelve months — 1 countries in all. Where these figures come from

The ten leading countries

1 United States of America 100.0%

Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

The 5 most looked-at works by Ethel N. Adnan

1 Autumn in Yosemite Valley 33.3%
2 Etel Adnan : Painting Bridges, 1999 33.3%
3 Al-Sayyab,Unshudat al-Matar, 2001 16.7%
4 Al-Hallaj, Qasaid, 2008 16.7%
— Untitled, 1970 this painting 0.0%

Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 10 works by this artist, of which 4 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

Artist

Ethel N. Adnan

Born in Beirut, Lebanon

early life and education

ethel n. adnan, a lebanese-american poet, essayist, and visual artist, was born in beirut in 1925 to a greek mother from smyrna and a damascus-born father, a high-ranking ottoman official. her eclectic background laid the groundwork for her diverse artistic expressions. she studied philosophy at the university of paris, the university of california, berkeley, and harvard university.

artistic journey and teaching

adnan's artistic journey is marked by her unique blend of poetry, essays, and visual art. from 1958 to 1972, she taught the philosophy of art at the dominican university of california in san rafael, lecturing at various universities across the united states. her return to lebanon saw her working as a journalist and cultural editor for al safa newspaper in beirut.

notable works and style

al-hallaj, qasaid, a piece showcasing her experimentation with japanese paper, is a testament to her versatility.

her visual art, often characterized by its abstract and introspective nature, reflects her poetic inclinations.

view more of ethel n. adnan's works on AllPaintingsStore: [https://AllPaintingsStore.com/@/ethel-n-adnan](https://AllPaintingsStore.com/@/ethel-n-adnan)

legacy and later life

in her later years, adnan openly identified as lesbian. she lived in paris and sausalito, california, until her passing on november 14, 2021, at the age of 96. *key artworks and collections:*

the ramzi and saeda dalloul art foundation, beirut, lebanon - featuring works like al-hallaj, qasaid.

explore more on AllPaintingsStore's platform: [https://AllPaintingsStore.com/@@/d7967r-ethel-n-adnan-al-hallaj-qasaid](https://AllPaintingsStore.com/@@/d7967r-ethel-n-adnan-al-hallaj-qasaid)

conclusion

ethel n. adnan's life and art embody the spirit of cultural fusion and artistic experimentation, leaving an indelible mark on the world of visual arts and poetry. her legacy continues to inspire through her works, now a cherished part of various collections, including those found on AllPaintingsStore.

Where to read more

The artist Ethel N. Adnan originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/ethel-n-adnan/
Similar works More works to compare originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/ethel-n-adnan-untitled-D2NHZQ-en/

Find this online

QR code linking to the download page for Untitled

originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/ethel-n-adnan-untitled-D2NHZQ-en/

Cite this artwork

MLA: Adnan, Ethel N.. Untitled. 1970, https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/ethel-n-adnan-untitled-D2NHZQ-en/
APA: Adnan, Ethel N. (1970). Untitled [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/ethel-n-adnan-untitled-D2NHZQ-en/
Chicago: Ethel N. Adnan. Untitled. 1970. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/ethel-n-adnan-untitled-D2NHZQ-en/
Harvard: Adnan, Ethel N. (1970) Untitled. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/ethel-n-adnan-untitled-D2NHZQ-en/

Untitled — Ethel N. Adnan

Look closely

Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

What catches your eye first, and why?
Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
Look back at Autumn in Yosemite Valley, earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
Abstract Expressionism: Large canvases where the act of painting itself — the drip, the sweep — is the subject. Where can you see that in this work?
Ethel N. Adnan was about 45 when this was made. What in it looks like the work of an artist at that stage?

Your response

Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

Questions & Answers

How can I get a digital file of "Untitled" by Ethel N. Adnan?

To get a digital file of "Untitled" by Ethel N. Adnan, order a high-resolution digital image download on its Digital Image page.

Is "Untitled" free of copyright?

"Untitled" by Ethel N. Adnan is still protected by copyright. This status governs how the image of the work may be reproduced.

Are the colors of "Untitled" by Ethel N. Adnan vivid or muted?

The color of "Untitled" is muted in saturation and balanced in intensity.