#5 1978

Richard Diebenkorn created this abstract print, #5, employing etching techniques to present us with a study in form and space. Dominating the composition are geometric shapes - the rigid rectangles contrasting with the organic, soft ovals. Consider the recurring motif of the circle: in its complete form, it represents wholeness, eternity, and the cyclical nature of life. Yet, here, the fragmented circles and ovals suggest incompleteness or a continuous process of becoming. I am reminded of how the circle appears in ancient mandalas, symbolizing the cosmos. But unlike the fixed symmetry of a mandala, Diebenkorn's circles are scattered and asymmetrical, inviting a sense of movement. This interplay between the stable grid and fluid shapes evokes the tension between order and chaos, a visual representation of the subconscious's struggle to reconcile conflicting desires. It is in this dialectic that we find the enduring power of the image, as it engages our collective memory on a deeply psychological level. The symbol resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.