Untitled [two female models embracing] 1955 - 1967

Editor: This is Richard Diebenkorn’s "Untitled [two female models embracing]", created between 1955 and 1967 using pencil. The intimacy in the drawing is palpable, almost as if we’re intruding on a private moment. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Diebenkorn's piece provides an interesting lens through which to view the representation of female intimacy during the mid-20th century. How do we consider it now, decades later, with evolving discussions around the gaze and female agency? The embrace speaks to the bond between women, but also hints at the complex relationship between artist and model, and the power dynamics inherent within. Editor: I hadn't considered the power dynamics, I was focused more on the tenderness conveyed. But how does this fit into the wider context of Diebenkorn's other works? Curator: Many understand Diebenkorn primarily for his abstract, geometric Ocean Park series, but works like this reveal an engagement with the figure throughout his career. The choice to depict two women, especially during this period, can be considered within a discourse around female relationships in art. Who is this intimacy meant for, and why does the artist invite the viewer in? How does its presence – or absence - impact society’s perceptions of women? Editor: That makes me reconsider the gaze. Perhaps it’s about Diebenkorn’s experience and how society perceives it, rather than a pure representation. Curator: Exactly! It's about recognizing those layers and asking critical questions about the narrative being presented and how it reflects—or challenges—contemporary norms. What can art teach us about the lives of people, during different moments of time? Editor: This really underscores how art can be both deeply personal and deeply political. Thanks! Curator: A perspective shift that I find incredibly important, my pleasure.