Untitled [three studies from life] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this untitled drawing from life with what looks like pencil, and it’s all about the gesture. It’s like he’s thinking on the page, not precious, and not really trying to nail down all the details. The marks build up, and the repeated studies of the figure give it a sense of movement and three-dimensionality. I love the way the line weight varies. The darker marks really pop, like in the face and arms. It makes it feel immediate, like you're right there with him, watching the drawing unfold. For me, this relates to his wider process as a painter. Diebenkorn would often revisit the same motifs and work through variations, always searching, always questioning. Sort of like de Kooning's drawings, but with a quieter kind of energy. This piece captures the spirit of artmaking as a conversation, an ongoing process of exploration and discovery. It's never about getting it perfect; it's about staying open to the possibilities.