Untitled [standing female nude behind a seated female nude] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this untitled drawing of two nudes with ink on paper, sometime in the 20th century. The artmaking process is so visible here, from the drips and splatters to the sheer economy of line. It’s as if the ink had a mind of its own, and Diebenkorn was just coaxing it along. Look at how those inky lines define the figures. Some are dark and decisive, others are faint and hesitant, almost like whispers. I am drawn to the standing figure’s right foot. See how the lines splay out, as though the artist couldn't quite decide where to place it, creating a ghostly echo of the foot’s "true" position. It's this kind of deliberate ambiguity that keeps me coming back to Diebenkorn’s work. Thinking about other artists, I am reminded of Matisse, both share a love for the human form and a willingness to embrace imperfection. It's a reminder that art is a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas across time and space.