Untitled [reclining nude leaning on her left arm] 1955 - 1967

Curator: This is an "Untitled" pencil drawing of a reclining nude by Richard Diebenkorn, likely created between 1955 and 1967. Editor: There’s something inherently vulnerable and raw about this. The stark pencil lines against the blank page make it feel exposed, almost unfinished. Curator: Absolutely. You see the hand of the artist, quite literally. Diebenkorn’s use of line is incredibly efficient here; he captures form and weight with such economy. The materiality is simple – just pencil and paper – yet incredibly expressive. You sense the pressure he applied, the speed of his hand. Editor: It makes me think about the act of looking, and the gaze involved. What was the relationship between Diebenkorn and the model? Was it collaborative? Exploitative? I also wonder about the choice of pencil. It’s so… accessible. Curator: Diebenkorn often returned to the figure, even amidst his explorations of abstraction. And I think you’re right about the accessibility of the medium. It demystifies the artistic process, in a way. Anyone could pick up a pencil and try to do this, though few could achieve his mastery. Editor: It almost looks like a blueprint. A design. It challenges the classical notions of what the “finished product” of fine art even needs to be. What does Diebenkorn elevate about simple materials and lines here? Curator: He captures something fundamental about human form. By not overworking it, he allows the viewer's imagination to complete the image. He honors both line and negative space in equal measures, which allows for it to float somewhere between observed reality and conceptual expression. It celebrates drawing, labor, and the body all at once. Editor: I love that idea of "observed reality and conceptual expression." Thinking about the means of production and reception in Diebenkorn’s work with this piece has opened a perspective I previously may not have encountered. Curator: Indeed! These are sketches, really—thoughts on paper, offering insight into his process and aesthetic interests. Thank you for reflecting on this intimate drawing with me today.