Untitled [front view of a standing female nude] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this ink drawing of a standing nude, and you can almost see the brush dancing on the paper, can’t you? I imagine him, in his studio, quickly capturing the essence of the figure before him. The ink is fluid, almost watery, creating these delicate washes and bold strokes. He's really playing with light and shadow, right? What was he thinking as he made it? I wonder if he was wrestling with the legacy of figuration, trying to find his own way. I love how he embraces the materiality of the ink, letting it drip and pool in certain areas, adding texture and depth. It's like he's letting the medium itself speak, and how the ink gathers at the figure’s feet, grounding her, giving her weight. Diebenkorn was always in dialogue with other artists, I mean, who isn’t? This reminds me of Matisse, but with a distinctly American sensibility. It's all part of an ongoing conversation, each artist building upon the ideas of those who came before, pushing painting in new and exciting directions.