Untitled (Man)

Untitled (Man) is one of Condo’s 1989 etchings. The man is depicted in profile view with an elaborate headpiece and ornamental clothing. It appears as though a feather protrudes from the brim of his hat. The sitter also has long wavy hair and his eyebrows are elaborately depicted, accentuating the eye of the figure. However, Condo plays with his features through the use of abstract impressionism. The result is that his eye appears to be peering outwards directly at the viewer. The collar of the sitter is very similar to the collar of the sitter in another of Condo’s 1989 etchings entitled Untitled.

George Condo’s 1989 etchings depict individual sitters and play with their perspective. Much like his work Untitled 12, the sitter in this etching conveys an ambiguous mood. There is something sinister about the way that they are presented. Similarly, their clothing invokes thoughts of the circus and ties in with the theme of the grotesque, something that Condo continually explored. They way that Condo conveys light, through the tighter hatchings on the nose and chin of the sitter further imbue the figure with a sense of mystery. His mood remains elusive, perhaps intentionally so.