Untitled [seated woman resting her chin on her hand] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn drew this seated woman, resting her chin on her hand, in simple graphite lines on paper. I see the studio, the model, and the artist trying to capture the essence of her pose, the slump of her shoulders, and the gentle support of her hand against her face. I love how a few strokes can convey so much. Look at the continuous line that forms the side of her face, neck, and shoulder – it speaks to the artist’s confidence and speed. What was he thinking about as he was drawing her? Was he focused on the light, the shadow, the feeling of the moment? I imagine him working quickly, trying to get the lines down before the pose shifted. Diebenkorn probably knew so many drawings from Matisse and Picasso, who both influenced his way of seeing. All artists stand on the shoulders of others, learning and responding to what came before. This work invites us to appreciate the beauty of simplicity, and the way a single line can hold so much expression.