Untitled [Two Seated Figures] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this drawing of two seated figures with ink on paper, and it's like a jazz riff, all moody and improvisational. I imagine him, maybe in the '50s, quickly sketching, letting the ink bleed and pool, finding the shapes with these dark, decisive marks. Look at how he captures the weight and form with such economy, it reminds me of Matisse, but with a West Coast vibe. You can feel the push and pull of light and shadow, creating depth, and it’s not really about accurate representation, but more about capturing a feeling, an atmosphere. The cross-hatching is like shorthand for volume, and the overall effect is raw and immediate. It's like Diebenkorn is in conversation with the old masters but doing his own thing, and that’s how art grows, right? One artist riffing on another, and then another. It's one big beautiful conversation, with painting inviting us all to listen in.