Untitled [seated nude with her leg bent and hand to mouth] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this ink drawing of a nude figure; we don’t know exactly when, but we can see it’s been made with urgency and speed. Look at those dark, sure lines of ink on paper, as if he’s trying to capture a fleeting moment. I really relate to this kind of drawing, where the artist seems to be thinking through the body, feeling its weight and presence with each stroke. The pose is so casual and intimate, a figure caught in a private moment, her hand to her mouth in a gesture that could mean anything. What was she thinking? What was Diebenkorn thinking? I’m thinking of Matisse’s line drawings, of course, and all the artists who’ve tried to capture the essence of a body with just a few marks. Diebenkorn’s work has a West Coast vibe, though - cool and a little detached. But the way he uses line to define form, to suggest volume and space, is so skillful. It’s like he’s inviting us to see the world in a new way, one line at a time.