Untitled [nude with her arms crossed stepping forward] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this nude with her arms crossed stepping forward sometime in the mid-20th century using ink on paper. I’m drawn to how the lines feel both tentative and so sure of themselves, a dance between observation and invention. It’s like he's thinking through the figure right in front of us. The ink sits right on the surface, not trying to hide its presence, and the paper peeks through, all raw and immediate. Look at the belly area, how the lines suggest form without fully defining it. It’s gestural, a kind of shorthand for the body that leaves space for our imagination to fill in the gaps. This balance between presence and absence, definition and suggestion, makes it a compelling piece. There’s a kinship here with artists like Matisse, who also used line to distill the essence of form. And like Matisse, Diebenkorn shows us that art isn't about perfect representation, but about the conversation between the artist, the subject, and the viewer. It’s an invitation to see the world in a new way.