Untitled [portrait] 1955 - 1967

This is an untitled portrait, probably made with charcoal by Richard Diebenkorn. Look at the way the figure emerges from the page with simple smudges and lines. There's such an economy of marks in this work and yet it has a certain immediacy. The drawing seems to be built up with layers of smudged charcoal, with the artist using their fingers or a rag to push the material around. This creates a soft, hazy effect, especially around the eyes and cheeks. See that blocky, almost brutal line that defines the right side of the head. It is a really bold, decisive move, anchoring the form amidst the haziness. Diebenkorn reminds me of Matisse in the way that he balances observation and abstraction in his work. Like Matisse, he's clearly interested in capturing something about the world but also in exploring the possibilities of the medium. Drawing isn't just about representation; it's a form of thinking.