Untitled [standing nude with her right foot on a support] 1955 - 1967

Editor: So, this is an untitled ink drawing by Richard Diebenkorn, made sometime between 1955 and 1967, depicting a standing nude. The pose is so introspective. What feelings or symbols do you see coming through in this piece? Curator: The pose speaks volumes, doesn't it? See how the figure is drawn with bold, almost frantic lines? Notice the support of the right foot echoes across to the supporting arm. To me, there’s a compelling tension here—the figure is grounded, literally, but the bowed head and crossed arms suggest a figure lost in contemplation, burdened even. What do you make of the line work itself? Does it suggest anything to you? Editor: It feels raw and unfinished, perhaps capturing a fleeting moment or a deep vulnerability. But what cultural weight might this image carry? Curator: Nudes, particularly female nudes, are laden with art historical baggage. From idealized goddesses to objects of the male gaze. Diebenkorn’s choice to depict a figure that is neither conventionally beautiful nor overtly sexual feels significant. It seems to resist those older, patriarchal visual symbols, maybe even to break away to his earlier abstract expressionism, no? This feels deeply personal, psychological, more about the human condition than idealized form. Editor: That makes me see the gaze, or lack of it, in a whole new way! Almost like we're seeing her thought process. Curator: Precisely! It allows the viewer to connect with her inner state rather than simply observing her physical form. In this way, it opens a space for empathy and quiet reflection, perhaps echoing your own. It transcends a classical portrayal and offers a new way of seeing. What will you take away from Diebenkorn's gaze? Editor: That even seemingly simple lines can carry profound weight and can shift away from older, more symbolic representation towards greater insight into being human. Thank you! Curator: And thank you, for looking deeply!