Ocean Park #131 1985

Richard Diebenkorn made "Ocean Park #131" with oil paint, though the exact date is unknown. He built up this expansive canvas with thin layers and careful lines; there's a real sense of a back-and-forth between the colors, the shapes, and the making of the painting itself. Up close, you can really see the subtle texture, where Diebenkorn layered washes of grey, off-white, and the faintest pink. It’s like he’s trying to find the light itself, the specific light of Southern California, maybe. Notice that little drip of paint near the middle, those vertical lines read almost like rain. It’s these little moments that give the painting life. Diebenkorn reminds me a bit of Agnes Martin, in the sense that they both work with grids and geometry, but he's messier, more human somehow. Ultimately, it's a painting that stays with you, each viewing offering a new way in.