Untitled [study of a female torso] [recto] 1955 - 1967

Editor: This ink drawing, simply titled "Untitled [study of a female torso] [recto]," is by Richard Diebenkorn and was made sometime between 1955 and 1967. I’m struck by how unfinished it feels, almost like a fleeting glimpse, and by its casual confidence. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Ah, Diebenkorn. He invites us into his artistic process here, doesn’t he? It feels incredibly intimate. For me, the power of this drawing lies in its suggestive nature. He’s not trying to replicate reality perfectly, but instead capturing the essence of form, the *feeling* of the female body. You almost feel the energy of the artist’s hand moving across the page. It reminds me of Matisse's line drawings - so spare, yet so expressive. Does it remind you of anything? Editor: Now that you mention it, it does share that economy of line with Matisse! But it also feels distinctly Diebenkorn, maybe because of his later geometric style seeping through somehow? I see those almost architectural lines. Curator: Precisely! There's a tension between the fluidity of the figure and that underlying structure. And those strong dark lines in contrast to the more delicate sketching? Delicious! It shows how Diebenkorn’s abstraction was always rooted in observation, wouldn't you say? It makes me wonder what became of it! Editor: It's amazing how much he conveys with so little. It's definitely given me a fresh perspective on seeing and drawing. Curator: Exactly! Maybe you and I can give it a go ourselves! Thank you Diebenkorn for making us see!