Untitled [seated female nude holding right leg] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this drawing of a seated nude with ink on paper. The stark contrast of the black ink against the white ground gives it this real graphic punch. I can really feel the artist's hand in this work. It's like he's thinking through the lines, one at a time. He's feeling his way around the figure. The face is missing, which gives the drawing an anonymous feel. It's not about this particular person; it's more about line and form and mass. What I find interesting is the pose. The figure is holding their leg, kinda awkwardly. What do we make of that gesture? Diebenkorn was part of a long conversation about figuration and abstraction. Artists are always talking to each other that way, across time. I guess that’s what keeps art alive! It’s never just one voice; it’s a chorus, a constant exchange. I hope this piece encourages you to get in on that conversation.