Untitled [seated female nude holding right leg] 1955 - 1967

This brush and ink drawing of a seated nude is by Richard Diebenkorn. The tonal variation across the figure and ground suggests a layering process. Like one idea is laid down, then another, and another, as the image shifts into being. I’m really feeling the weight and presence of the black ink. It grounds the figure, literally and metaphorically, in the here and now. Diebenkorn’s marks are so economical, especially the rapid strokes that define her form – they remind me of Matisse’s line drawings. You get a sense of the artist’s focused attention, his way of seeing and responding to the model. The inky blacks are interspersed with delicate washes that create depth, shadow, and volume. It’s like he's building the figure out of light and dark, substance and shadow. This reminds me that artists are always learning from each other. They're always trying to find new ways of expressing themselves through their work. And for me, that’s where the real beauty of art lies.