Untitled [standing female nude in cap looking down] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this 'Untitled [standing female nude in cap looking down]' with graphite and ink wash on paper. The female nude has long been a staple of Western art, but Diebenkorn's approach here seems less about idealization and more about a frank, almost casual observation. The cap, the downward gaze, and the loose, sketch-like quality of the drawing all contribute to a sense of unposed immediacy. Made in mid-20th century America, a time of shifting social norms and evolving attitudes toward the body, this work might be seen as a subtle challenge to traditional, more rigid representations of women. It reflects a broader cultural move toward greater realism and a rejection of artifice. To fully understand this drawing, we would want to delve into the artist's biography, the artistic climate of the time, and the evolving representation of women in art history. These elements, uncovered through careful historical research, add layers of meaning to what might at first appear to be a simple sketch.