Untitled [woman raising her dress and gesturing] [recto] 

Richard Diebenkorn made this ink on paper drawing, titled "Untitled [woman raising her dress and gesturing]", at an unknown date. This sketch offers us a glimpse into the artist's process and the cultural context that shaped his work. The gestural lines, the figure's pose, and even the seemingly unfinished quality all speak to a moment of artistic exploration. Made in mid-twentieth century United States, this image can be seen in relation to the history of art institutions that were, at the time, predominantly shaped by male perspectives. The woman raising her dress and gesturing challenges conventional notions of female representation. By considering Diebenkorn's biography, his engagement with modernist movements, and the broader social conversations around gender and representation in his time, we can better understand the complex layers of meaning embedded in this seemingly simple sketch. Such historical and biographical research can deepen our appreciation of art as something contingent on social and institutional context.