Untitled [standing female nude with arms akimbo] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this ‘Untitled [standing female nude with arms akimbo]’ with ink on paper. It's a drawing where you can really see the artist thinking through the form. The marks feel immediate, like he's trying to capture not just the shape of the figure but its essence, you know? The texture is all in the strokes – some are dark and confident, others are light and sketchy, almost hesitant. Notice how he uses these quick, repeated lines to build up the shadows and volume. The way he renders the torso, it’s like he’s mapping out the planes of the body. Then there's this area around the legs where the ink seems to disperse, creating a kind of hazy atmosphere. This piece reminds me of Matisse's line drawings, where he could convey so much with so little. Diebenkorn, like Matisse, is showing us that art isn't about perfection; it's about the ongoing conversation, the back-and-forth between seeing and feeling.