Untitled [seated nude with her forearms raised] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this untitled charcoal drawing of a seated nude figure. In the mid-20th century, artists like Diebenkorn, working in the Bay Area, grappled with legacies of representation. There were a number of questions, such as, who gets seen, and how? This drawing invites us to consider the politics of looking, and the power dynamics inherent in the act of portraying the female nude. The woman's pose, with her forearms raised, suggests a moment of introspection or perhaps vulnerability. The gaze is averted, but the body is exposed. What does it mean for an artist to capture such a private moment, and for us to witness it? Diebenkorn once said, "I am not an abstract artist at all. I’m very representational." Here, rather than adhering to traditional idealized forms, Diebenkorn offers an intimate, human portrayal. In doing so, he challenges the viewer to consider the complexities of identity, representation, and the female experience.