Untitled [seated female nude with leg pulled into chair] [rverso] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this drawing of a seated nude with charcoal, or maybe conté crayon, on paper. See how the lines are tentative, searching? It's all about process here. The charcoal is dry and a little crumbly, not too precise. I love the way he suggests the form of the body with just a few lines, leaving so much unsaid. The surface of the paper is smooth, which creates an interesting contrast with the rough texture of the charcoal. Look at the way he's drawn the foot that's resting on the chair. It's not perfect, but it has a real presence, a weightiness. Diebenkorn was really interested in Matisse, and I see that influence here in the way he simplifies the figure and focuses on line and form. It's like he's trying to capture the essence of the figure, rather than create a perfect representation. For me, that's what makes it so compelling.