Untitled [reclining nude leaning on his right arm] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn drew this reclining nude with ink on paper. The swift, fluid lines capture a figure in repose. You can almost feel the artist circling the model, trying to catch that perfect balance between observation and feeling. I wonder what the model was thinking. Were they bored? Contemplative? Did they shift a little and make Diebenkorn start again? The texture of the ink varies from thick, dark contours to diluted washes, giving depth to the simple composition. That single, unbroken line defining the back, it’s so confident! You know, drawing like this is about so much more than just looking and copying; it's about understanding form, weight, and the very essence of the human body. Painters like Diebenkorn are in constant conversation with the past, riffing off old masters while finding their own voice. It’s a reminder that art is an ongoing exploration, a dialogue between artists across time.