Untitled [nude seated among pillows] 1955 - 1967

Editor: We’re looking at Richard Diebenkorn’s "Untitled [nude seated among pillows]", created between 1955 and 1967. It’s a charcoal drawing and, wow, it really has a somber, intimate feeling, wouldn’t you say? What's your take on it? Curator: Intimate is spot on! I think this drawing feels intensely personal, even vulnerable. I get the sense Diebenkorn wasn’t just capturing a likeness, but exploring something deeper about form and self. I see a push and pull between abstraction and figuration – a modern dance on paper, wouldn't you agree? Do you find yourself drawn to a specific area? Editor: The subject’s face and hands! The definition is soft and it evokes the vulnerability so typical of his works from that time. Curator: Exactly! I always love that softness of form; even in what might feel like a harsh medium – charcoal – it transcends realism. Do you think the pillows underneath suggest something? Is it a sign of opulence, sensuality or is that just the easy support? Editor: It is very sensual. Almost opulent because of the detail juxtaposed with how minimalist the lines are in general. Curator: I love the ambiguity. Nothing is overt. He invites us into his most internal creative struggle as an artist. Which, for me, makes the piece so successful. Editor: That's so beautifully put. It's helped me look beyond the figure and appreciate Diebenkorn's artistic journey itself. Curator: Yes! And that's why revisiting works like these always offers new perspectives. There's a conversation between us, Diebenkorn and the work! It keeps art exciting.