Untitled [seated nude crossing her legs and looking down] 1955 - 1967

Editor: So, this is Richard Diebenkorn’s "Untitled [seated nude crossing her legs and looking down]," created sometime between 1955 and 1967. It's a drawing, seemingly charcoal on paper. The pose of the figure is so inward, almost melancholic. How do you interpret this work? Curator: It strikes me as a potent commentary on the objectification of women in art, even when seemingly presented with artistic 'objectivity.' Diebenkorn made this drawing during a time of intense societal shifts in gender roles and sexual liberation. Editor: In what way? Curator: Consider how the woman's gaze is averted, inward, denying the viewer direct access or confrontation. Is this her choice, or a reflection of how women were conditioned to present themselves? The sketch-like quality further underscores this. Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't considered the averted gaze as a form of resistance. The lines also seem unfinished, implying... Curator: Perhaps an incomplete narrative, a refusal to finalize the objectification. The negative space becomes a critical element, pushing back against the historical conventions of the female nude. We can ask ourselves if this 'unfinishedness' provides the model with some agency. Is the artist empowering his subject in a way that challenges traditional art history? Editor: It definitely gives me a new perspective to consider how the visual choices connect to gender politics. I will definitely think more carefully about erotic art in general moving forward. Curator: It's a constant dialogue. Seeing art as enmeshed with power dynamics is so crucial!