Albuquerque #4 1951

Richard Diebenkorn composed "Albuquerque #4" with oil on canvas, presenting us with a landscape of memory and emotion. Dominant are fields of color—greens, purples, and yellows—that evoke a sense of place, yet defy literal representation. Notice the red arch, bisected by a horizontal line, a potent symbol. It echoes forms found in various cultures across millennia, from ancient Roman architecture to more contemporary uses: an entrance, a gateway, a threshold. This motif carries with it associations of transition and passage. Consider how this simple shape, rendered in bold red, might trigger subconscious responses. The arch, as a universal symbol, resurfaces and evolves. It speaks to our shared human experience, carrying forward our collective hopes and fears. Diebenkorn's painting thus becomes a landscape not just of place, but of the soul, inviting us to explore the depths of our own memories.