Untitled [female nude seated on stool with leg crossed] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this drawing of a female nude on paper using charcoal. The simple materials belie the complexity of the work. Charcoal, essentially burnt wood, is one of the oldest drawing materials known to humankind. Here, Diebenkorn uses it to create a study of form and shadow with an economy of line. The powdery, soft quality of the charcoal allows for subtle gradations of tone, while the quick, gestural marks suggest a sense of immediacy and spontaneity. The figure seems to emerge from the ground of the paper, as if captured in a fleeting moment. The choice of such a humble material elevates the act of drawing to something fundamental and essential. It’s a reminder that the most profound artistic statements can often be made with the simplest of means. In the end, this emphasis on the basics challenges any hierarchy between the so-called ‘fine’ and ‘applied’ arts.