Untitled [model lifting her dress and pulling it off her shoulders] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn sketched this model undressing, using sparse lines to reveal a narrative as old as time. The act of undressing, seen here, carries potent symbolism throughout art history. We see it echoed in countless depictions of Venus preparing for her bath, or Susanna surprised by the elders. The removal of garments is more than a physical act; it's a moment of vulnerability, a stripping away of social artifice to reveal the raw, human form. Consider how the meaning of such a gesture has twisted and turned through time, from the sacred act of unveiling a goddess to the voyeuristic gaze upon Susanna. This drawing touches upon our collective memory and the subconscious allure of exposure. It’s a reminder that the power of the image lies not just in what is shown, but in what it evokes within us.