Untitled [reclining female nude leaning into a pillow] 1955 - 1967

Editor: This is an untitled pencil drawing by Richard Diebenkorn, created sometime between 1955 and 1967. It depicts a reclining female nude leaning into a pillow. The line work feels very raw and immediate to me. What do you see in this piece, considering its visual language? Curator: Immediately, I’m drawn to the tension between vulnerability and a certain protective stance the figure embodies. Notice how the curled posture almost echoes a fetal position, a primal symbol of seeking comfort and safety, contrasted with the starkness of the linework. It invites us to consider the psychological weight carried by representations of the female form. Do you sense that interplay? Editor: Yes, definitely. It’s almost like she’s retreating inward. But, is there something inherently feminine about that symbolism, or could it apply more broadly? Curator: That's a crucial point. While historically, such postures have often been associated with idealized feminine fragility, Diebenkorn's raw style disrupts easy readings. The simplified lines allow viewers to project their own associations. The pose also carries an older symbol of meditation, and is adopted across genders to show inner peace. Does the artwork invoke one emotion more than another? Or can the symbol take a variety of cultural connotations? Editor: It feels… more melancholic than peaceful, at least to me. It has that visual tension we discussed. Curator: Precisely. And consider that lack of definitive "finish." It's in process, allowing multiple emotional interpretations. What lasting effect does it create for you, then? Editor: It's interesting to think about how much of my own interpretation is brought to it. It’s a really dynamic drawing – more than it appears at first glance.