Untitled [seated female nude leaning forward] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this drawing of a seated female nude leaning forward with what looks like charcoal on paper. You can see how the drawing emerges through a process of layering and reworking. There's a restless energy here, with the charcoal lines shifting and building upon each other. It’s like Diebenkorn is feeling his way through the form, capturing not just the appearance but also the weight and presence of the figure. I imagine him stepping back, squinting, then leaning in again, charcoal in hand. Each mark is a response to the previous one, a kind of visual call and response. The density of the marks around the figure's face and torso gives way to lighter, more gestural lines in the legs, suggesting movement. Diebenkorn's exploration of line and form is reminiscent of Matisse's drawings, but with a rawer, more tentative quality. He’s inviting us to witness the act of creation itself. It’s about the journey, the struggle, and the beauty of the incomplete. It reminds me that artists are always in conversation with one another, building upon and challenging the ideas of those who came before.