Untitled [back view of standing nude with her left arm raised] [verso] 1955 - 1967

Here we see an ink drawing by Richard Diebenkorn, depicting a standing nude figure from behind, with one arm raised. The raised arm gesture— a motif as old as art itself—resonates across cultures. Think of ancient depictions of goddesses or priestesses, their arms raised in supplication or offering. This symbol can be found again and again throughout history. Consider the emotional power inherent in this simple act. Is it defiance? Acceptance? Invocation? This gesture echoes in countless works—from religious icons to secular art—each time imbued with a new layer of meaning yet retaining a primal connection to our collective memory. This drawing, with its raw, gestural lines, taps into something deep within us, a shared human experience expressed through the body's silent language. Like the pulse of time, it resurfaces, evolves, and speaks anew.