Untitled [nude in an armchair touching her chin with her left hand] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this nude in an armchair with ink on paper. You know, that single black line has to do so much work here! It's kind of amazing really. I can imagine him just feeling his way around the form, trying to describe the volume of the body with as little information as possible. I can see him debating with himself where to apply pressure and where to let up, deciding what is essential and what can be left out. I think of Matisse, of course, but also Guston - how one line can be so awkward, and yet so full of feeling. Look at the way he renders the model's hand against her face. It's just a few flicks of the wrist, but it completely conveys the gesture. It reminds me that drawing and painting is an ongoing conversation. Each artist adds their voice to a collective exploration of how to see and represent the world. And, like any good conversation, it’s full of surprises, detours, and moments of unexpected connection.