Untitled [man with glasses holding a cup] 1955 - 1967

This drawing of a man with glasses holding a cup was made by Richard Diebenkorn using graphite on paper. There's a directness here, a kind of searching line that feels like thinking out loud. Diebenkorn's mark-making feels both tentative and assured. Notice how the simple lines create a sense of volume and weight, particularly in the way the jacket drapes and folds. The hand holding the cup is just so evocative, isn't it? It's a study in restraint, but with such an economical approach, you can sense the artist really trying to capture the essence of the figure. It reminds me of the work of David Hockney, who also used line in a similar way to describe a figure in space. Ultimately, this drawing shows us that art is about inquiry rather than answers, inviting us to participate in its ongoing evolution.