Untitled [female nude seated on a patterned fabric] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this untitled charcoal drawing of a female nude seated on patterned fabric. The post-war American art world saw a tension between the dominance of abstract expressionism and a return to figuration. Diebenkorn navigated these currents, and his work often explores the intimacy of domestic life. The female nude is a traditional subject in Western art history, often laden with expectations of beauty and idealization. Here, Diebenkorn's loose lines and heavy shading feel modern. The woman's gaze is averted. She is present, yet also seems lost in thought. Diebenkorn develops an alternative narrative that moves away from the tradition of the passive female nude. His aesthetic evokes a sense of vulnerability and interiority. What does it mean to represent a woman in this way? Diebenkorn’s drawing encourages us to consider how we see and interpret the female form, and to reflect on the power dynamics inherent in the act of looking.