Untitled [female nude standing beside a stool] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this contour drawing, titled 'Untitled [female nude standing beside a stool]' with ink on paper. It's all about the line, right? How it moves, where it hesitates, where it rushes forward. Look at the pubic hair – it's a scribble, a kind of frantic energy, but then the line that defines her thigh is so calm and assured. That contrast is what makes the drawing sing. The stool to the right is just a few lines as well, but they seem to suggest a sense of space. There’s a beautiful economy to this drawing, a confidence that comes from years of looking and seeing. It reminds me a little of Matisse in its simplicity, but with a distinctly American directness. It's a reminder that sometimes, the most powerful statements are made with the fewest marks. The drawing leaves so much space for the viewer to complete, and that's where the magic happens, in that shared act of creation.