Untitled [woman seated at a table] [recto] 1955 - 1967

This untitled work is a drawing by Richard Diebenkorn, created with ink on paper. The composition is immediately striking for its use of stark contrasts and dynamic lines. Diebenkorn captures a seated woman in a style that balances representation and abstraction. The dark, fluid ink washes create a sense of depth and shadow, particularly in the background and around the figure, whilst the lines are free, and somewhat unconstrained. This approach invites a dialogue between the visible and the implied. The semiotic interplay of solid forms and empty spaces complicates any singular reading. Is it a study of form or an exploration of the female figure? The visual language Diebenkorn employs challenges the viewer to negotiate between the immediacy of the subject and the abstract qualities of the ink. It's this tension between the recognizable and the abstract that ultimately defines the work.