Untitled [seated nude facing to her left] 1955 - 1967

Here's a drawing of a seated nude made by Richard Diebenkorn, rendered in charcoal and ink, with a palette of blacks and grays on a pale ground. Looking at the charcoal strokes, I imagine Diebenkorn circling around the figure, searching for the right lines, the right volumes. See how the ink washes pool in certain areas, creating deep shadows and flat shapes that contrast with the more textured areas of charcoal. I can almost feel him shifting between media, charcoal in one hand, brush in the other, figuring out how to describe the weight and presence of the figure through light and shadow. It reminds me a bit of my own process of layering and building up surfaces. It's like he's feeling his way through the darkness, trying to capture something essential about the human form. What do you think he was thinking about while making this drawing? What other artist might he have looked at? I feel a connection to Matisse, especially in its use of line and form to suggest volume and space. It’s funny how artists across time are always riffing off each other, inspiring and pushing one another forward. What do you think?