Untitled [seated nude with her right foot on a support] 1955 - 1967

Editor: Here we have an ink drawing by Richard Diebenkorn, probably created between 1955 and 1967, called *Untitled [seated nude with her right foot on a support]*. The line work is so fluid, almost nonchalant, and the pose feels intimate, but also weary. What’s your take on this seemingly simple sketch? Curator: Well, what strikes me is Diebenkorn’s engagement with a loaded artistic tradition. Think about the history of the nude in art – often, it’s about power, a male gaze objectifying the female form. Editor: Right, I see that everywhere in art history. Curator: Exactly. But here, the sitter’s pose suggests a kind of self-possession, almost introspection. It isn’t performative. How do you think the looseness of the sketch contributes to that feeling? The social context, with rising awareness of feminist perspectives, must have impacted artists like Diebenkorn. Editor: I think it does feel more human, more like capturing a private moment rather than an idealized image. The incompleteness gives it honesty. Curator: Precisely! And we shouldn’t overlook the medium itself – ink on paper. This isn’t some grand oil painting destined for a palace. It's intimate, easily reproducible. What kind of public accessibility would a work like this offer compared to traditional nudes exhibited in prominent places? Editor: I never thought about the relationship of the medium with social context like that. It democratizes the genre. Curator: It does. The choice reflects the shift in societal attitudes and challenges traditional artistic conventions. It offers a reflection on both personal and socio-political awareness. Editor: This changes the way I see similar works now. Thank you!