Untitled [figure resting left arm on a ledge: front view] 1955 - 1967

This is a pencil drawing of a figure resting their arm on a ledge by Richard Diebenkorn. What I find compelling about this piece is the economy of line – how Diebenkorn coaxes form from such sparse means. Look closely, and you can see how the texture of the paper plays a crucial role. The tooth of the surface interacts with the graphite, creating subtle variations in tone and depth. It’s not just about what the pencil puts down but what the paper allows. The hands resting on the ledge are rendered with quick, assured strokes. There’s a density there, a weight, that contrasts with the more ethereal treatment of the figure’s face, where the lines are scratchier and more tentative. This contrast between certainty and uncertainty is, for me, where the drawing comes alive, and it reminds me of Picasso's drawings. Art isn't about definitive statements. It's about embracing the questions and the spaces in between.