Untitled [torso and leg of a seated female nude] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this drawing of a seated female nude in ink on paper at an unknown date. The simplicity of the line and the pose are reminiscent of Matisse. The drawing’s institutional context is important. Diebenkorn taught at many universities and colleges, including the California College of Arts and Crafts, and the University of California, Los Angeles. The nude was a standard subject in academic art education. It allowed students to master the proportions of the human body. But by the mid-20th century, many artists rejected academic art traditions and sought to liberate themselves from the strictures of conservative institutions. Diebenkorn’s drawing can be understood in this context as a commentary on the politics of imagery. It is a straightforward and unidealized depiction of the female form, and it challenges conventional notions of beauty and representation. Art historians can examine student handbooks, university calendars, and course lists to better understand the role of the nude in the art school curriculum.