Untitled [standing female nude with long hair] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this ink drawing of a standing female nude on paper, and it's all about the beauty of the line, isn’t it? The ink is fluid, almost watery in places, which allows it to bleed a little into the paper. It's so evident that the image has been constructed through a process of addition and then subtraction. The artist isn't afraid to let us see the ghost of an earlier mark. Diebenkorn circles around the form, feels his way into it by exploring the weight of the line. Look at the dancerly quality of the mark making around the figure’s hair and shoulder. The drawing feels provisional, as if Diebenkorn is thinking out loud, trying to find the essence of his subject. This makes me think of other artists who explored similar themes of line and form, like Matisse. But while Matisse’s line is confident, Diebenkorn’s feels more vulnerable, more tentative. Ultimately this drawing is an invitation, not a statement.