Student Artwork Guide

Name Class Date

Roberto Matta, Untitled (1949). 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: Roberto Matta originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/roberto-matta/
Artist’s dates: 1911 – 2002
Painted: 1949
Original size: 94 x 160 cm

Copyright This work is still under copyright. Roberto Matta died in 2002; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it remains in force until 2072. The image is shown here for classroom reference; rights remain with the rights holder.

Untitled — Roberto Matta

How big is it?

The original measures 94 × 160 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000

08
918
1928
2938
3948
4958
5968
6978
7988
8991

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 91 at death.

Painted when the artist was 38. The artist lived to 91. 7 of the 11 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Roberto Matta (1911–2002) ▲ this work, 1949 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1939 Main working years: 1939–1952 Late works: from 1952

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

Being With (Être Avec), 1946 originaluniqueart.com/en/art/roberto-matta-being-with-etre-avec-D2UAF7-en/
Senza titolo, 2009 originaluniqueart.com/en/art/roberto-matta-senza-titolo-D9TJSM-en/
The Disasters of Mysticism, 1942 originaluniqueart.com/en/art/roberto-matta-the-disasters-of-mysticism-D4A4N7-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/roberto-matta-untitled-D2XR5A-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

Main colour

Walnut #7e4528

Catalogued palette

#7E4528
#C3B17C
#0B0A0A
#978755

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

Palette: Dark The dominant colour family in the image.
Main colour name: Walnut
Intensity: Vivid How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
Contrast: Statement How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
Harmony: Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
Brightness: Bright How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
Saturation: Clear Color Presence 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 Roberto Matta over the last twelve months — 3 countries in all. Where these figures come from

The ten leading countries

1 United States of America 62.5%
2 China 18.8%
3 United Kingdom 18.8%

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 8 most looked-at works by Roberto Matta

1 Being With (Être Avec), 1946 53.6%
2 The Disasters of Mysticism, 1942 17.9%
3 Verbo América, 1997 10.7%
4 The Composition with Green Tones, 1939 3.6%
5 Les Oh! Tomobiles, 1972 3.6%
6 The Spherical Roof Around our Tribe (Revolvers), 1952 3.6%
7 The Onyx of Electra, 1944 3.6%
8 Untitled, 1949 this painting 3.6%

Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 12 works by this artist, of which 8 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 8 of them, with 3.6% of that attention. 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.

Untitled — Roberto Matta

Gestural marks and abstract forms characterize this untitled composition by Matta. They exemplify the artist’s application of "automatic" techniques associated with Surrealism, to which he was introduced by André Breton, the founder of the movement in Paris. Here, two upright, hybrid figures appear to confront, even antagonize, one another in amid a tense field punctuated with blunt passages of hot yellow and bright red. Reinterpreted by younger American artists in 1940s New York, including Jackson Pollock, Matta’s brand of biomorphic abstraction contributed to the foundation of what became known as Abstract Expressionism.

Artist

Roberto Matta

Born in Santiago, Chile

Roberto Matta: A Surrealist Visionary

Born: November 11, 1911, Santiago, Chile

Died: March 23, 2002, Civitavecchia, Italy

Roberto Sebastián Antonio Matta Echaurren, known as Roberto Matta, was a Chilean painter and architect who significantly impacted abstract expressionism and surrealist art. His journey from architecture student to influential artist reflects a profound exploration of the subconscious mind and a unique artistic vision.

Early Life and Artistic Development

Education: Studied architecture at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, graduating in 1935.

European Influences: Travels to Europe exposed him to prominent artists like René Magritte, Salvador Dalí, André Breton, and Le Corbusier, shaping his artistic style.

Surrealist Engagement: Became a key figure within the Surrealist movement, embracing its exploration of dreams, the subconscious, and challenging conventional reality. His work was heavily influenced by Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theories.

Key Artistic Characteristics and Influences

Biomorphic Forms: Matta’s paintings are characterized by organic shapes and forms reminiscent of living organisms, a hallmark of his style.

Psychological Landscapes: His works often depict dreamlike landscapes that evoke psychological states and emotions.

Abstract Expressionism: While rooted in Surrealism, Matta's work significantly contributed to the development of Abstract Expressionism through its emphasis on gesture, color, and emotional expression. He collaborated with artists like Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock.

Modernismo Influence: His connection to the Modernismo art movement is evident in his use of Latin and Greek mythology and medieval verses.

Major Works and Political Engagement

Notable Paintings: Being with, Invasion of the Night, and Verbo América are among his most recognized works.

Mural "The First Goal of the Chilean People": A large-scale mural painted in 1973 was later covered by the military regime of Augusto Pinochet. It was rediscovered and restored in 2008, now displayed at La Granja City Hall. This work demonstrates his political engagement and commentary on social issues.

Ceramic Vessels: Matta also explored ceramic art, creating vessels with surrealist imagery and ancient motifs (as seen in "Senza titolo").

Legacy and Historical Significance

Influence on Subsequent Artists: Matta’s innovative use of color, form, and psychological themes inspired generations of artists.

Museum Recognition: His works are held in prestigious collections including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City and the Butler Institute of American Art.

Continued Relevance: Matta’s exploration of the subconscious mind, his blending of surrealism and abstraction, and his engagement with political themes continue to resonate with contemporary audiences.

Where to read more

The artist Roberto Matta originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/roberto-matta/
Similar works More works to compare originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/roberto-matta-untitled-D2XR5A-en/

Find this online

QR code linking to the download page for Untitled

originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/roberto-matta-untitled-D2XR5A-en/

Cite this artwork

MLA: Matta, Roberto. Untitled. 1949, https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/roberto-matta-untitled-D2XR5A-en/
APA: Matta, Roberto (1949). Untitled [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/roberto-matta-untitled-D2XR5A-en/
Chicago: Roberto Matta. Untitled. 1949. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/roberto-matta-untitled-D2XR5A-en/
Harvard: Matta, Roberto (1949) Untitled. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/roberto-matta-untitled-D2XR5A-en/

Untitled — Roberto Matta

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 Being With (Être Avec) (1946), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
Roberto Matta was about 38 when this was made. What in it looks like the work of an artist at that stage?
What might the artist have wanted you to feel?

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

Why is the copyright status of "Untitled" what it is?

"Untitled" by Roberto Matta is still protected by copyright. Copyright duration runs from the artist's death, which occurred in 2002.

In what year was "Untitled" by Roberto Matta created?

"Untitled" dates from 1949. The date places the work within Roberto Matta's career and its era.

Who created "Untitled"?

"Untitled" was created by Roberto Matta. The information on this page describes Roberto Matta's original work.