Untitled [kneeling female nude leaning back] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this drawing of a kneeling nude, probably in the 60's, with what looks like a simple felt-tip pen on paper. There's something so raw and immediate about the line here, isn't there? Like a dance, Diebenkorn's pen navigates the curves and angles of the body, unafraid of a little awkwardness. That little scribble where the legs meet is particularly interesting; it’s like he's mapping out a whole topography with just a few strokes, capturing the essence of the figure without getting bogged down in details. You get the sense that he's not just copying what he sees, but really feeling it out, letting the line lead the way. It reminds me a bit of Matisse’s line drawings, but with a more American sensibility. Both artists understood how to distill form to its most essential expression. Ultimately, it’s a piece that reminds us that art isn’t about perfection. Instead it’s about the messy, beautiful process of trying to capture something real.