Untitled [portrait of a woman and profile study] [recto] 1955 - 1967

This pencil drawing by Richard Diebenkorn features a woman in a pensive pose, her chin resting on her hand, and a profile study below. This gesture, the hand supporting the face, echoes through art history, symbolizing contemplation and melancholy. Think of Rodin’s “The Thinker”, or even ancient depictions of philosophers deep in thought. The act of physically supporting the head speaks to a deeper weight, the burden of thought itself. Consider how the image of a thoughtful person evolves, passed down through time and cultures. It surfaces in different forms, yet the underlying emotion resonates. Diebenkorn taps into this collective memory, engaging us on a subconscious level, drawing on our shared understanding of human emotion.