Untitled [standing female nude with arms raised] 1955 - 1967

Editor: This is an untitled charcoal drawing by Richard Diebenkorn, created sometime between 1955 and 1967. The gestural lines give it such an immediate and raw feeling. How do you interpret this work? Curator: It is the urgency of the line that draws my eye. The rapid, almost frantic strokes…it speaks to a fleeting moment captured. This nude evokes a sense of vulnerability but also defiance. Editor: Defiance? How so? Curator: Note how her arms are raised. Is she surrendering, or is she pushing back against something unseen? The absence of a face further emphasizes this ambiguity, transforming the figure into a universal symbol. Think of depictions of the body, of female nudes particularly, throughout art history. What connotations are immediately brought to mind? Editor: Well, usually ideas about beauty and ideal forms...But here, the starkness counters that... Curator: Precisely! This is no idealized form; it's a human presence, rendered with all its imperfections and strength. This rawness allows us to connect with the figure on a deeper level. We recognize something of ourselves, our own struggles and resilience. It resonates as a timeless image. Editor: I see what you mean. It moves beyond just being a nude figure study and taps into something more universal about being human, and being seen. Curator: Indeed. It's a testament to Diebenkorn's ability to imbue a simple sketch with profound emotional weight, connecting to a larger cultural memory of form and spirit.