Untitled [figure in short-sleeved shirt] 1955 - 1967

Curator: Richard Diebenkorn’s "Untitled [figure in short-sleeved shirt]," likely created between 1955 and 1967, presents a striking portrait rendered with pen and ink. What's your initial response? Editor: Raw. Immediate. It feels like catching someone in a fleeting moment, all angles and restless energy translated into bold strokes. Kind of brooding, but with a stylish nonchalance. Curator: The briskness of the line is significant, especially when we situate this drawing within the broader context of Diebenkorn’s exploration of form and identity. The confident lines deny the constraints of the medium, even though the result emphasizes vulnerability. Editor: Absolutely. The figure's pose—arms crossed, gaze direct—speaks volumes, too. Are they defensive? Reserved? There’s a psychological depth suggested here that’s surprising given the simplicity of the technique. Curator: That psychological complexity, I think, is intensified by the implied narrative. Where does this figure exist outside the frame? How do race, class and gender inform our viewing experience? Does the work offer opportunities to critique those intersections or conversely, is it simply presenting one specific kind of being? Editor: Well, it’s certainly open to interpretation, which is where the fun begins for me. This image makes me wonder about my relationship to art. Are they, as a stand-in for Diebenkorn, studying *me*? Curator: These open ended questions about the role of identity underscore Diebenkorn's importance. His stylistic choices in creating this piece provide rich terrain for analyses situated between feminist theory and art history. Editor: Exactly. Art like this is so essential because it reflects that back to us, helping us unravel our own biases. Makes me wish I could sketch like that. One continuous line, one swift statement. Curator: Indeed, this deceptively simple ink drawing encourages reflection, not just on Diebenkorn's artistic process, but on ourselves and the way we perceive others. Editor: I’ll carry that probing gaze with me, that's for sure. Makes you think, doesn’t it?