Untitled [portrait] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this untitled portrait with pen on paper. Though undated, its style suggests it was made sometime in the mid-20th century. Diebenkorn's quick, fluid lines capture the sitter's likeness but also hint at the broader cultural context of the time. The loose style, reminiscent of Abstract Expressionism, reflects a shift in artistic values toward spontaneity and individual expression. During this period, institutions like art schools and galleries played a crucial role in promoting new artistic movements, shaping the reception and market for art. The work could be read as a comment on the changing role of the individual within society during the postwar era. To fully understand the artwork, historians consult a range of resources, from artist biographies and exhibition catalogues to social and political histories of the period. Through careful study and interpretation, we can gain insight into the social forces that shaped artistic production and the ways in which art, in turn, challenges and reflects our world.