Untitled [seated female nude resting chin on left hand] 1955 - 1967

Curator: Richard Diebenkorn created this sketch, titled "Untitled [seated female nude resting chin on left hand]", sometime between 1955 and 1967. It’s a pen and ink drawing. Editor: There’s a quiet thoughtfulness here. I mean, she's got that classic pose – hand supporting her chin – like she’s contemplating the meaning of life, or maybe just what to have for dinner! There's this delicate openness about the linework that almost feels… unfinished, yet resolved. Curator: It’s interesting to consider this within the context of Diebenkorn’s broader body of work. His Ocean Park series, for instance, shows his exploration of space and structure. This nude drawing offers a different, more intimate exploration of form. How does gender play into his depiction here, do you think? Editor: Hmm. Well, it doesn't scream objectification, which is a relief. It's more like he’s caught her in a moment of being. She feels present, not posed, you know? The incompleteness allows the viewer to project their own narrative onto her. Curator: Exactly. That sense of presence, even in its sketched form, breaks from traditional power dynamics. The gaze isn't directly at us, or commanding our attention. She exists for herself, considering something unknown. How do you see the materiality, the pen and ink itself, informing our understanding? Editor: The lines are simple, direct, almost like he's figuring out her essence with each stroke. I love that it isn’t overly worked; it keeps that fresh energy. It’s raw, like a fleeting thought captured on paper. The slight messiness only enhances its emotional depth. Curator: Yes. It raises questions around how the act of drawing can function not only as documentation but as an open dialogue with both the subject and the self. Considering issues of representation in art and media today, seeing works like this prompt useful discussions around whose gaze is shaping these narratives. Editor: Right, right, which brings us back to her and that open, pensive look… Well, whatever she’s thinking about, I hope she figures it out! It's made me want to find my sketchbook, like some seed of creation that inspires others. Curator: Ultimately, the intersectionality between process, subject and viewer make this piece compelling beyond its simple rendering of form. Editor: Cheers to the sketchers out there, who allow their initial thought and raw impulse guide their line!