Untitled [seated female nude leaning on right arm and looking right] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this drawing of a seated nude, probably in his studio, using charcoal on paper. Look at the confidence of the marks! It's like watching someone dance. You can see the movement of his hand as he quickly sketched the figure’s outline and inner contours. I bet Diebenkorn was totally absorbed, almost in conversation with the model. I wonder what he was thinking about as he worked? Maybe he was trying to capture the essence of her form, or the way the light played across her skin. See how the charcoal lines vary in thickness and intensity? That gives the drawing a real sense of depth and volume. And the smudging and erasing? That adds to the feeling of immediacy, like it was made in a single breath. You can see how other artists like Matisse also explored similar themes of the figure in space. Each mark carries intention, but also a sense of playfulness. It’s like Diebenkorn is inviting us to join him in the act of seeing. These artists show us how painting embraces ambiguity and uncertainty. It’s a beautiful thing.