Untitled [seated female nude wearing glasses] 1955 - 1967

Editor: Here we have Richard Diebenkorn's "Untitled [seated female nude wearing glasses]", created between 1955 and 1967, a pencil drawing on paper. There’s something both intimate and detached about the subject; the simple lines feel vulnerable, yet the glasses create a sort of barrier. What stands out to you in this piece? Curator: For me, the interesting thing about Diebenkorn’s nude drawings, and this one in particular, is how they participate in and subtly critique the history of the nude in art. Throughout art history, the nude, especially the female nude, has been a vehicle for the male gaze. How does the addition of the glasses change that dynamic here? Editor: That's a great point, I didn't consider that! Maybe it pushes back on the male gaze by giving the subject an intellectual presence, a sense of self-awareness that complicates the power dynamic. Is that connected with Abstract Expressionism in general? Curator: It's partially about the shifting role of the artist within Abstract Expressionism. In that time the public role and perception of artists evolved to become somewhat of celebrity figures. Here we have the artist making their mark not by depicting beauty, but depicting modern perception. What's compelling is that Diebenkorn acknowledges those historical tropes while simultaneously creating something uniquely personal. It makes us question, doesn't it, the way we look at art and the assumptions we bring to it? Editor: Definitely, thinking about how socio-political factors affect the artist is important in gaining a new point of view when approaching the artwork. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure, and perhaps it gives us some new perspectives on our modern approach to art!