Painting II 1949

Richard Diebenkorn made this painting, Painting II, with oil on canvas, though the date of it is unknown. Look at how Diebenkorn builds up this surface! It's like he's carving out space, layering tans and grays, leaving bits of white peeking through. It’s all about the material quality of the paint. The texture is thick, almost like frosting, creating a tangible sense of depth. Check out that big, dark shape, sort of egg-like, hovering in the center, how it pulls you in, yet it's surrounded by this warm, earthy orange that feels so grounded. It’s like he's playing with inside and outside, containment and release. Diebenkorn reminds me a little of de Kooning in his approach, but with a West Coast vibe, you know, more laid-back, like a conversation rather than an argument. Art, after all, is always about talking to each other, across time and space, about what it means to see and feel.