Untitled [nude with crossed legs and right hand on her knee] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this ink drawing, titled "Untitled [nude with crossed legs and right hand on her knee]," sometime during his career. The sketch is indicative of the mid-20th century American art world, where there was a widespread return to figuration by artists who sought to break from Abstract Expressionism. The image is striking in its ambiguity; Diebenkorn uses minimal lines, and the figure's face is left blank. This places emphasis on the model's body, while inviting the viewer to contemplate her thoughts and emotions. Was this a commentary on the societal pressures faced by women, where their physical appearance was often prioritized over their thoughts or aspirations? To understand this drawing fully, it is useful to examine the broader social context of mid-20th century America. Through sources like letters and exhibition records, we might better understand how Diebenkorn's work engaged with contemporary social and cultural debates. The meaning of art is, after all, contingent on its social and institutional context.