Untitled [rear view of nude in contrapposto] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this untitled drawing of a nude, with what looks like charcoal, on paper. The figure’s captured in this classic contrapposto pose, you know, where the weight’s on one leg, creating that natural curve in the spine. I really get a sense of the artistic process looking at this drawing. You can see the pentimenti, those ghostly traces of erased lines that show the artist working through the form, adjusting and refining the figure's posture. The marks range from delicate, almost hesitant lines to bold, assertive strokes that define the contours of the body. Take a look at how Diebenkorn renders the back. See the dense, layered strokes that create a sense of depth and volume? It’s not just about copying what’s there, but about feeling the weight of the body, the way the muscles shift and turn. Diebenkorn really reminds me of Matisse, in his approach to drawing, that same search for the essence of form through line. I never get tired of looking.