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

Richard Diebenkorn made this drawing of a nude, reclining figure with what looks like charcoal on paper. The funny thing about drawing is, it's all about process. You’re not so worried about the end result but just the simple act of mark making, trying to find the form. Here, Diebenkorn uses these dark, assertive lines to trace the curves of the body. Notice how the lines aren't perfectly smooth; they're a bit scratchy and uneven, almost like he was feeling his way around the figure. See that dense cluster of marks around her groin? It's like he's zeroing in on the weight and volume, not just outlining it. It makes me think of how artists like Matisse or even Schiele used line - not to just describe, but to really feel out the form, like a sculptor would with clay. It’s like Diebenkorn is having a conversation with the body, line by line.