Untitled [head of a woman looking left] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this drawing of a woman's head looking left with charcoal on paper. The approach to mark making feels immediate, like he’s trying to capture a fleeting impression. The charcoal is applied with varying pressure, creating lines that are sometimes thick and bold, sometimes thin and delicate. You can see the texture of the paper coming through, which adds to the sense of immediacy. The lines build up the form, and create shading. Notice the area around her hair, there is a density and layering of marks, almost like he's sculpting her features with charcoal. It's not about perfection, it's about the gesture, the feeling, the process of seeing. It reminds me of some of Matisse's drawings, where he's able to convey so much with so little. Like Matisse, Diebenkorn embraces ambiguity, inviting us to bring our own interpretations to the work.