Untitled [standing nude with her left arm behind her back] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this untitled drawing of a standing nude, with charcoal on paper. A network of delicate charcoal lines sketch out the contours of the female body. The composition emphasizes the interplay between positive and negative space, with the figure emerging from the blankness of the paper. Diebenkorn's approach to the figure is both intimate and detached. The lines trace the form of the body, but do not dwell on details. The absence of facial features and the lack of background contribute to a sense of anonymity, inviting us to focus on the abstract qualities of line, shape, and form. This drawing can be seen as part of a larger discourse around representation and abstraction. In its reduction to essential lines, Diebenkorn is pushing the boundaries of traditional figure drawing. He challenges fixed meanings and encourages ongoing interpretation.