Untitled [front view of nude with left hand behind her back] [verso] 1955 - 1967

This is an undated drawing of a nude figure by Richard Diebenkorn. Emerging in the post-war period, Diebenkorn's figurative work invites us to consider the evolving representation of the body. Here, the female form is presented with a raw, almost detached simplicity. The sketch-like quality, with its visible erasures and corrections, defies traditional idealization. The model’s pose, with her hand behind her back, might suggest a sense of constraint, inviting questions about the gaze and the power dynamics inherent in the act of depicting the nude. How does Diebenkorn challenge conventional notions of beauty and femininity? What does it mean to represent a body with such apparent casualness, and yet, such careful attention? This piece creates a space for us to reflect on the complex interplay between artist, model, and viewer, and on the ever-evolving narratives we construct around the human form.