Untitled [seated female nude] 1955 - 1967

This quick sketch of a seated nude was done by Richard Diebenkorn with ink on paper. It’s all about the line, isn't it? These aren’t hesitant lines, they have a real confidence, and the speed of the mark is evident. I imagine Diebenkorn figuring things out as he goes, finding the form in the process of drawing. The ink is a warm, dark brown, and the paper is a kind of pale tan, almost skin-like. I love the places where the line doubles back on itself, or trails off, like around the head and shoulders. These little imperfections give the drawing its energy. The feet, look at how they're described with just a few flicks of the wrist! Thinking about other artists playing with line, Matisse comes to mind, doesn't it? But where Matisse is all elegance, Diebenkorn is a little rougher, a little more searching. For me, this piece is a beautiful reminder that art is not about perfection, it’s about exploration, and about embracing the unexpected.