Untitled [standing female nude with arms crossed] 1955 - 1967

Editor: This is Richard Diebenkorn's "Untitled [standing female nude with arms crossed]," a drawing made sometime between 1955 and 1967. It's strikingly simple, just a few lines capturing the figure. I'm curious, how do you interpret this work, particularly considering the period it was created in? Curator: The sketch exists within the shifting landscape of postwar art. The figure is both present and absent, inviting us to contemplate not only the body but also the sociopolitical forces acting upon it. The woman's pose, with arms crossed, could suggest defensiveness, or perhaps a quiet strength born from existing in a world still heavily coded with gender expectations. How does the visible erasure and redrawing contribute to your understanding? Editor: I noticed that, it's like a trace of the artistic process, showing vulnerability, almost, which feels quite modern for its time. Does this have any relationship to feminist perspectives that would soon emerge? Curator: Precisely. The incompleteness defies the traditional male gaze that dominated art history. The visible process challenges notions of the perfect female form, engaging in a dialogue that anticipates the feminist art movements questioning beauty standards. Do you feel that the piece is successful in its dialogue? Editor: I think so. Its power lies in the subtlety, in suggesting rather than dictating. The unfinished quality makes it feel open to interpretation, which makes it interesting in conversation. Curator: Indeed, and the absence of a defined face opens it to wider associations, reflecting both the individual and the universal experience of womanhood, then and now. Editor: That's a helpful observation that connects the artist’s approach to wider narratives and interpretations. I'm walking away seeing the work in a new light now.