Untitled [standing nude looking over her left shoulder] [recto] 1955 - 1967

Editor: This is an ink drawing, simply titled "Untitled [standing nude looking over her left shoulder] [recto]" by Richard Diebenkorn, probably done sometime between 1955 and 1967. There's something melancholic about the figure, she seems almost burdened. What do you see in it? Curator: Melancholy… I like that. I see the vulnerability that line drawings often evoke, don’t you? Diebenkorn, like many artists exploring the figure, isn't just capturing form; he is chasing the ineffable. Look at the tentative, searching lines – they build the form, yes, but also betray the artist's process, his hesitations. It’s a negotiation. The curve of the shoulder, the angle of the neck... it speaks of quiet introspection. Do you sense that as well, or something else entirely? Editor: Introspection is a great way to put it. It's like the figure is retreating inward, both physically and emotionally. I also noticed that Diebenkorn included the guidelines that almost give you a peek into the artistic process itself. Is there any historical context that helps to interpret this work? Curator: Absolutely. Remember, Diebenkorn was moving between abstraction and figuration during this period. This drawing, even with its seemingly simple subject, speaks to that tension. The swift lines aren't about perfect representation, but the feeling of the human form. Think of his Ocean Park series—that same concern with space, light, and line is present here, only distilled to its most essential form. A tension between inner observation and outer expression perhaps? Editor: So it's less about *who* she is, and more about what she *represents*. Curator: Precisely. It’s about line, emotion, and the artist’s gaze. We each bring our own baggage, I think it reflects my current mood: hopeful for future prospects. Editor: It's amazing how much information and emotion can be conveyed with just a few lines. I’ll never look at line drawings the same way again. Curator: Indeed. That's the power of art. It lingers and simmers.