Untitled [seated female nude with raised right arm] [verso] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn created this simple yet evocative drawing of a seated nude female figure. Look closely at the raised arm—it's a gesture that echoes through art history. Consider the Venus Pudica, a symbol of modesty, yet here, there’s a defiance, a raw vulnerability. It reminds us of the figures in Renaissance paintings, where gestures convey complex narratives. But in Diebenkorn’s sketch, the line is pared down, almost primal. This pose can be traced back to classical antiquity and its subsequent reinterpretations throughout the ages, suggesting a collective memory influencing the artist. These forms trigger subconscious associations and deeply resonate with our shared human experiences of vulnerability, exposure, and self-awareness. It is a gesture that has been resurrected time and again.