Untitled [cubist head study with two studies of abstract forms] 1955 - 1967

This drawing is an untitled study made by Richard Diebenkorn, who was born in 1922 and died in 1993. It is made with pen and ink on paper. Diebenkorn used the most direct means possible: the quick, unhesitating stroke of pen on paper. The drawing embodies immediacy, an urge to capture a thought. Notice how he uses the pen to explore cubist forms. The material quality of the ink, its fluidity, allowed him to achieve a remarkable dynamism. The lines almost seem to vibrate on the page, charged with energy. The choice of materials and process is important here. This wasn't about creating a polished, finished artwork. It was a way for Diebenkorn to rapidly experiment and refine ideas. He had the freedom to follow his intuition, without the pressure of producing a final 'masterpiece.' In that sense, this study reflects a democratic approach to art making, one that values the process of exploration over the creation of a precious commodity.