Untitled [back view of seated female nude with leg crossed] 1955 - 1967

Here we see a seated female nude with leg crossed, drawn by Richard Diebenkorn. This pose, reminiscent of classical sculptures of Venus, speaks of a timeless beauty. The crossed leg, a motif echoing through art history, suggests both vulnerability and self-containment. We see it echoed in countless depictions of Eve, a gesture laden with shame and awareness. Yet, here, in Diebenkorn's rendering, it seems to carry a different weight. The lines, simple and direct, hint at a psychological exploration. What emotions are being conveyed through this gesture? The subconscious memory of the classical figures, or even earlier, fertility idols, connects us to a shared, primal understanding of the female form. The power of the nude lies not only in its visual representation but also in its capacity to evoke a deep emotional response, a connection to our collective human experience. Diebenkorn reminds us of the cyclical nature of artistic expression, where forms and ideas are constantly reinterpreted, carrying echoes of the past into the present.