Untitled [seated nude facing left] 1955 - 1967

This is an ink drawing of a seated nude by Richard Diebenkorn. What strikes me is how Diebenkorn seems to be working it out as he goes. You can see that he's not so fussed about getting it 'right', but is more interested in the feeling of the body. Look at the way he builds up the darker tones with these really direct, almost scribbly marks. On the torso and upper arm, you can see how the ink bleeds into the paper, creating these soft, blurry edges that contrast with the sharp, defined lines elsewhere. There's a beautiful tension between the precision of the line work and the fluidity of the ink wash. It's all about embracing the messiness of the process. Diebenkorn reminds me a little of Matisse in his line work, but there is something edgier, more restless about his work. You get the feeling he's always pushing, always questioning. It's a reminder that art is not about perfection but about exploration.