Untitled [side view of a nude with her left arm over her head] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn’s ink wash drawing captures a nude figure, her arm raised above her head, creating a stark, expressive form. This pose, with arms overhead, echoes the classical motif of Venus Anadyomene, the goddess emerging from the sea, often depicted wringing out her hair. But here, the gesture is stripped of its mythological context, revealing something more primal. In Renaissance paintings, this gesture symbolized beauty and purity, but its origins trace back to ancient fertility rites. Think of Botticelli's Venus, or even further back, to images of Aphrodite. This symbolic journey reflects humanity's enduring fascination with the female form, which is a potent force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. This motif, passed down through history, has shifted in meaning, yet it retains a connection to its origins, revealing the cyclical progression of symbols. Diebenkorn's drawing resonates with echoes of the past.