Untitled [seated woman with an open box on her lap] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this drawing of a seated woman with an open box on her lap with pencil on paper. Look at the quick, searching lines that make up this figure. The beauty is in how Diebenkorn is thinking through the image in front of us, feeling his way through the form. This is not about making a perfect representation of the woman, but more about how he’s using the act of drawing to understand her pose, her weight, her presence. The lines are immediate and vulnerable. See how the form of the dress is built up through repeated strokes, almost like hesitations, which create a real sense of depth and volume. And there, look at her legs and feet, rendered with such simple, elegant marks. This drawing reminds me of work by Matisse, who also had an incredible ability to capture form with just a few lines. Ultimately, what stays with me is the honesty and the intimacy of Diebenkorn's process. It’s a reminder that art is not about answers, but about the questions we ask along the way.