Untitled [seated nude resting her elbow on her knee] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn created this ink on paper drawing, "Untitled [seated nude resting her elbow on her knee]", sometime during his career. This piece emerges from a historical context where the female nude was a dominant subject in art, often viewed through a male gaze. Diebenkorn's drawing uses a minimalist approach, reducing the figure to its essential lines. This challenges traditional representations of the female form. The figure's pose, with her head resting on her hand, brings a sense of introspection and challenges the objectification often present in nude studies. It invites viewers to consider the woman's inner world, her thoughts, and emotions, offering an alternative narrative. Diebenkorn once said, "I'm not an abstractionist completely. I'm not really interested in the complete elimination of subject matter." Through the simple and emotive lines, the drawing prompts us to reflect on themes of identity, representation, and the emotional dimensions of the human form, fostering a more empathetic engagement with both the artwork and its subject.