Untitled [nude reclining with her arm across her chest] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this ink drawing of a nude, reclining figure, and what strikes me is how he makes a line do all the work. You can see him there with his pen, circling round the form, feeling his way into the body – scratchy, tentative, then sure, and bold, building the image. The lines overlap and hover, as if the figure is about to lift off the page. I wonder if Diebenkorn made this drawing after painting all day. Maybe he wanted to keep his hand in, but in a more direct, immediate way. That dark, looping line around the leg really catches the eye. It’s such a confident mark, but also kind of vulnerable, as if he’s not quite sure where it’s going, a bit like life itself. Diebenkorn’s drawing reminds me of Matisse’s line drawings – the same kind of economy and grace. It’s like they’re both trying to capture the essence of a thing with the fewest possible marks. And that’s what makes it so powerful.