Untitled [female nude with right foot on chair] 1955 - 1967

Here we see an undated drawing made by Richard Diebenkorn, an "Untitled [female nude with right foot on chair]", made with graphite on paper. The composition presents a figure, drawn with energetic, almost frantic lines, that capture the essence of the human form without adhering to strict anatomical precision. The lack of detail focuses our attention on the lines themselves and their relationship to one another. The use of hatching and cross-hatching creates a sense of depth and volume, whilst the negative space around the figure enhances the subject's presence. Diebenkorn’s approach to the nude form can be seen as a semiotic challenge to traditional representations of the female body. The raw and unfinished quality of the drawing challenges fixed meanings. The artist prompts a re-evaluation of our engagement with form and representation. It is an invitation to consider how the medium and its manipulation can communicate as powerfully as the subject it portrays.