Untitled [sketch of a profile] [verso] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this delicate sketch of a profile with pencil on paper. The image unfolds as a series of light, tentative marks, searching for the form within its making. The paper itself is a creamy, warm ground, against which the pale blue lines of the figure barely register. These fleeting lines are then punctuated by a few dark strokes of a thicker graphite pencil around the neck and head. It's these darker marks that really catch the eye, giving the drawing a focal point and lending a subtle weight to the figure's presence. That contrast reminds me of Giacometti's drawings, which use a similar technique to evoke a sense of fragile intensity. Like Giacometti, Diebenkorn’s sketch celebrates the beauty of imperfection. It’s a reminder that art isn't always about perfection, but about the journey of discovery, the conversation between the artist and the artwork, and the openness to possibility.