Untitled [seated female nude looking down] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this drawing of a seated nude with ink on paper. Just look at the way he dives right in, those confident dark marks are laid down in such a fluid way. You can tell this wasn’t labored over – it’s pure process. I love how the ink bleeds and pools, creating shadows and depth. Notice the way he uses the white of the paper as a kind of colour, to define the shape of the body. It's so minimal, yet so expressive! And that horizon line – just one quick swipe of the brush. There's something so elegant about its simplicity. This drawing really makes me think about the work of Franz Kline, who was also into these bold black and white gestures. But where Kline is all about energy and movement, Diebenkorn brings a sense of quiet contemplation. It's like he's inviting us to slow down and really see.