Untitled [woman seated on a stool resting her head on her hand] 1955 - 1967

This is an undated drawing, made with pencil on paper by Richard Diebenkorn, and it's a great example of how a simple medium can convey so much. The linear quality is really striking; Diebenkorn uses these quick, energetic strokes to define the figure. It’s all about process. Look at the way he renders the shadows on her legs and torso, creating volume with just a few layers of hatching. The lines aren’t precious or overworked; they have this incredible immediacy, as if he’s capturing a fleeting moment. He’s not trying to hide anything; you can see every decision, every correction, and every stroke. It's interesting to see how the marks that describe her legs are longer, straighter and more dense than the quick scribbles on her hair. Diebenkorn’s drawing reminds me of Matisse, and his ability to distill form down to its essence. Like a conversation between artists, Diebenkorn picks up on the thread that Matisse laid down, continuing the dialogue across time and space.