Untitled [female head] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this drawing of a female head, likely in the middle of the 20th Century, using charcoal on paper. It's all about the process, you can almost feel the artist circling around the form, searching for the right line. The charcoal is thick in some places, especially around the eyes and hair, giving the figure a sense of depth and weight. But then it thins out, becoming almost ghostly in the background, like the figure is emerging from a haze. Notice the nose, it's like a little triangle, a simple shape that somehow captures the whole essence of a nose. The line is confident but not overly defined. This piece reminds me of Matisse's drawings, where he used simple lines to capture the essence of a form. Like Matisse, Diebenkorn is interested in the power of suggestion, leaving space for our imaginations to fill in the gaps. It's a reminder that art is a conversation, an invitation to see the world in new ways.