Untitled [front view of a female nude with arms akimbo] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this untitled drawing of a female nude, its date currently unknown, with graphite on paper. The work gives us insight into how women have been represented in art, and the male gaze through which they are often depicted. Diebenkorn's sketch embodies a sense of unresolved tension. The model’s pose, with arms akimbo, hints at defiance, yet the anonymity of her faceless form implies a loss of individual identity. There is an emotional push and pull at play. Is she a figure of empowerment or objectification? The loose lines and unfinished quality of the sketch invite us to consider the power dynamics inherent in the act of looking. This piece offers a lens through which to examine the historical and ongoing conversations around gender, representation, and the female body in art.