Combination (working proof 19) 1981

Richard Diebenkorn created "Combination (working proof 19)" using etching and aquatint, media that are very conducive to color, line, and shape, which were Diebenkorn’s great interests. Diebenkorn, a white man, came of age as an artist during the Cold War. It was a period marked by intense ideological conflict, paranoia, and a pervasive sense of uncertainty. The era deeply influenced the art world. One can see this uncertainty in the abstract shapes and fragmented compositions of "Combination." The spade floats at the top of the work, divorced from the deck of cards. The large dark blue shape in the center is identifiable, yet ambiguous. Is it a flower, is it a club? Diebenkorn’s abstract language reflects the disquiet of the Cold War era. He seems to be asking, how do we find meaning and order in a world that often feels fragmented and chaotic? The palpable sense of searching is what makes this print so compelling.