Untitled [woman resting in an armchair] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn drew this untitled sketch of a woman in an armchair, probably at home, with a pencil on paper. The lines are tentative, searching, like he’s feeling his way around the form. There’s a real vulnerability to this drawing, a kind of honesty that comes from not trying too hard. The surface of the paper is stained and marked, bearing witness to the act of creation. See how the lines around the woman’s legs are a little shaky, a little unsure? It’s almost like he’s inviting us to see his process, the way he builds up the image bit by bit. That left arm fading into the chair behind, so light it might disappear at any moment! I’m reminded of Fairfield Porter’s intimate portraits, or even some of Matisse’s more casual drawings. There’s a similar sense of capturing a fleeting moment, of finding beauty in the everyday. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that art is often about the questions we ask, not the answers we find.