Untitled [reclining female nude grasping left ankle] [verso] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this untitled drawing of a reclining nude, with graphite on paper. Diebenkorn, born in Portland, Oregon in 1922, grew up during the Great Depression. His artistic career was interrupted by service in the Marine Corps in the Second World War. This piece offers a glimpse into his exploration of form and the human figure, subjects that preoccupied artists in the post-war period. The woman, rendered with soft, flowing lines, is at rest, her eyes closed. The intimacy of the pose draws us in, yet her detachment creates a sense of distance. This interplay of closeness and detachment may reflect the complex negotiations of intimacy and representation during the mid-20th century, a period marked by shifts in gender roles and social norms. The faceless form in the background further accentuates this negotiation between revelation and concealment.