Ocean Park #139 1985

Richard Diebenkorn created *Ocean Park #139* with oil on canvas. The work is reminiscent of California’s landscape and skyscape. The painting creates meaning through its emphasis on color and geometric form, reflecting the concerns of abstract expressionism in post-war American art. Diebenkorn’s work engages with the institutional history of art, as he borrows from European modernism but departs from its revolutionary ideals, embracing a more moderate and decorative approach. His work comments on the social structures of his time, specifically the growth of suburban culture and the rise of California as a center of artistic innovation. By examining exhibition reviews, artists’ statements, and social histories, the historian uncovers the cultural meanings of abstract art. Art's meanings depend on its social and institutional context.