Untitled [seated nude touching her left temple] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this ink drawing of a seated nude, tracing the figure in long, fluid lines. It's all about the touch, isn't it? Look how the ink bleeds a little into the paper in places, creating this sense of immediacy. It’s like he’s thinking through the form right there on the page. There’s a real economy to his mark-making. Every line seems essential, yet there's a playful looseness as well. The figure is built from simple contours and gestures, the pose is so natural, but there are areas where the composition is broken by ink spots that really grab your attention, especially where they appear on the figure’s leg. There's a sense of honesty in this piece. It reminds me a little of Matisse's line drawings, in that the image isn't laboured over, but full of vitality and directness. It's this ongoing conversation with art history that makes painting such a trip!