Untitled [seated nude leaning her arms on a cushion] 1955 - 1967

Curator: The immediacy of this sketch really grabs me. Editor: And what an interesting piece to consider – Richard Diebenkorn’s "Untitled [seated nude leaning her arms on a cushion]," created sometime between 1955 and 1967. It's a pencil drawing, and you're right, it does feel remarkably immediate. Curator: You can almost feel the pressure of the pencil on the page. It's a very raw, almost vulnerable depiction of the female form, created in thin lines. Diebenkorn wasn’t interested in embellishment. Editor: Indeed. Think about the cultural context in the mid-20th century. There was a significant shift occurring in the art world. Consider also Diebenkorn's geographical context in relation to modern art: do you think that shaped the perception and creation of nude imagery, and figuration as a whole? Curator: It must have. And beyond its historical placement, let’s think about what pencil as a medium signifies here. Its accessibility suggests a focus on the labor of creation, stripping away any artifice of more refined media. There is an almost democratic impulse to the simplicity of its use. Editor: That's fascinating to consider. The act of drawing, accessible as it is, juxtaposed with the very charged subject matter. How does that challenge the traditionally rarefied space in which the nude exists in art history? What kind of statement, or perhaps critique, might Diebenkorn be making by showing, so plainly, the act of portraying this figure? Curator: I think he's bringing the act of observation itself to the forefront, focusing on the human hand rendering another. This drawing resists a seamless, polished presentation; the evidence of its making is integral to the piece itself. It feels honest, almost uncomfortably so. Editor: A compelling perspective. Viewing it through the lens of social constructs surrounding the female nude forces us to question our expectations and the power dynamics at play. I’ll definitely be pondering this piece more deeply now. Curator: Absolutely, it provides such a refreshing take on a timeless subject.