Untitled [female nude leaning against wall] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn rendered this untitled charcoal drawing of a female nude sometime in the 20th century. The figure, faceless and leaning against a wall, is defined by bold, searching strokes. Diebenkorn, influenced by artists such as Matisse, often explored the female form, capturing its essence with raw, expressive lines. It’s important to consider how women have been historically represented in art, often through a male gaze. Here, however, Diebenkorn seems to seek something different, capturing a sense of weight and presence, without idealizing or sexualizing the figure. Notice the intimacy he creates through the immediacy of charcoal on paper. The drawing invites contemplation on the experience of inhabiting a body and how it feels to carry oneself in space. It’s a study in vulnerability and strength, where the incomplete nature of the figure allows us to project our own experiences and understanding of the body onto the work.