Untitled [head of a woman] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this sketch, “Untitled [head of a woman]”, using graphite on paper. Its date isn't known, but we can assume it was created in the United States in the mid to late 20th century. Diebenkorn is most known for his abstract paintings. However, in the 1950s he made many figurative drawings like this one. During that time, the art world was dominated by abstract expressionism. Representational art was seen as old-fashioned. Although Diebenkorn became well-known as an abstract painter, he seems to have reserved a place in his practice for studying the human figure. It is tempting to see his figurative drawings as a political act, going against the grain of the mainstream art world. To understand Diebenkorn’s artistic choices, we have to understand the art institutions of his time. By studying period publications, such as art magazines, we can learn more about the cultural significance of his work. We then can understand what it meant for Diebenkorn to paint abstractly, or to create representational sketches such as this one.