Through Diebenkorn’s "Window": Transitions in Time

Several hidden compositions lie below the surface of Window by painter and Stanford graduate Richard Diebenkorn, BA ’49. These compositions were unknown to the art community except as barely visible reworkings until brought to light by Stanford student Katherine Van Kirk, ’19, during her Chen-Yang fellowship in the Cantor’s Art+Science Lab. This installation shows the multiple layers uncovered through infrared reflectography as evidence—in a single painting—of the transition Diebenkorn was making in his art from the mid-1950s to the '60s. Viewers will have a chance to discover the hidden works themselves using interactive digital media and in early drawings in the artist’s sketchbooks and other works in the Cantor's collection.

This exhibition is organized by the Cantor Arts Center. We gratefully acknowledge support from the Bank of America Art Conservation Project.