Untitled [seated female nude with left hand on chin] [verso] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn created this untitled drawing of a seated female nude with graphite on paper. Although undated, it's likely this work was made in the mid-20th century, when Diebenkorn was working in the Bay Area Figurative style. The drawing depicts a woman in a moment of contemplation, a subject with deep roots in the history of art. During this time, the California School of Fine Arts, where Diebenkorn taught, was a hotbed for experimentation, challenging the established norms of the art world. The social context of postwar America, with its shifting gender roles and increasing emphasis on individual expression, also influenced this artistic approach. To truly understand this drawing, we can consult exhibition catalogs, artists' biographies, and cultural studies of mid-century America. By situating art within social and institutional history, we gain a richer appreciation of its meaning.