Untitled 1961

Richard Diebenkorn made this untitled drawing using graphite on paper in 1961. It's all about how a few simple marks can create an entire world, right? I love how the shading gives the figure weight, but at the same time the sharp lines keep it light and almost airy. Look at the way he uses short, scribbled lines to define the form. See how the graphite is layered to build up the darks and lights? It’s like he’s feeling his way around the subject, not just copying it, but really understanding how it occupies space. There’s a kind of raw honesty here, which is very Diebenkorn. His work, whether abstract or figurative, always feels so immediate and direct, like he’s inviting us into his process. Like Philip Guston, it’s a reminder that art isn't about perfection, but about the messy, beautiful act of trying to capture something real.