Woman at Table in Strong Light 1959

Richard Diebenkorn created this painting, Woman at Table in Strong Light, using oil on canvas. Look closely, and you'll notice the heavy materiality of the paint itself. Diebenkorn has left the marks of his process visible. See how he’s built up layers of color, almost like plaster on a wall. Notice the way the brushstrokes create texture and depth, making the surface come alive. Even though it’s a representational image, there’s a real emphasis on the stuff that painting is made of. In a way, Diebenkorn treats the canvas as a site of material exploration. By focusing on the basic elements like color, texture, and form, he blurs the line between the image and the physical presence of the artwork. So when you look at this painting, think about the hands-on, physical act of its making. It’s a great reminder that art is always about process, not just the final product.