Untitled [woman reclining in undergarments] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this drawing of a woman reclining in undergarments with ink on paper. Isn't it interesting how Diebenkorn uses simple outlines to capture the essence of the figure? It's like he's thinking through the form, letting the ink flow and guide his hand. The ink is applied so directly; you can almost feel the speed and confidence of his hand as it moves across the page. I'm really drawn to the way he renders the shadows, those darker areas of ink pooling here and there. They give weight and volume to the figure, especially around the torso. Look at the lines describing the legs, how they taper and curve. There's a real sense of movement and energy in those marks. This reminds me a bit of Matisse's line drawings, in that both artists share a similar interest in distilling form down to its most essential elements. Both also suggest that art is less about perfect representation and more about capturing a feeling or an impression.