Diebenkorn, Richard (American, 1922-1993), Untitled Abstraction, circa 1955, ink on tan wove paper, signed twice lower left with one set of initials crossed out, sheet size 12 x 9 inches, floated in a white painted frame 16.75 x 12.75 inches. Provenance: Gift of the Artist to Gertrude and Henry Quastler, Urbana, Illinois, 1955 (see last photo for mailing envelope from RD to the Quastlers, dated August 15, 1955 (photo for REFERENCE ONLY - the envelope is not included with the lot)); The Estate of Gertrude Quastler; Johanna Zimmerman, Pittsburgh, PA (Henry Quastler's sister); The Estate of Johanna Zimmerman, Pittsburgh, PA.; and thence by descent to the current owners. Gertrude and Henry Quastler became good friends with Richard Diebenkorn at The University of Illinois, Urbana, in 1952. The Quastlers and Diebenkorns shared an interest in jazz and symphonic music and would make art together while Charles Shattuck, the director of the University of Illinois Theatre, read aloud from plays or poetry (see catalog entries 5140-5145 in Volume 4 of the RD catalogue raisonne). Born in Vienna in 1909, Gertrude Quastler contracted tuberculosis and was treated by doctor Henry Quastler, who married her in 1933. The couple moved to Albania shortly after where Henry was employed to train radiologists. When King Zog was overthrown, the Quastlers moved to America where Henry soon became established as an important scientist. In America, Gertrude studied art, first at Columbia University and then at the University of Illinois. Henry also painted as an amateur. Gertude initially worked in painting, but later concentrated on printmaking, especially woodcuts, for which she became best known. She exhibited in New York and was represented by Weyhe Gallery. Her 1951 print Counterpoint was acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The couple moved to New York, where she continued to work in paint and drawing, but her print-making activity dropped off and she began making sculptures in 1959. She died at home in 1963. A few hours later, her husband took an overdose of pills, laid down beside her and held her hand until he died. Richard Diebenkorn later said of the Quastlers that “neither my wife nor I can think of a couple we encountered more indivisible.” Concept Gallery wishes to express our appreciation to the Richard Diebenkorn Foundation for assisting us in the research of this drawing. in good condition with some ink smudging likely by the artist while working on the drawing. Merchandise will be packed and transported by the purchaser at their own risk and expense. A list of recommended shippers is on our website: https://www.conceptgallery.com/auctions/shipping/.