Untitled [standing female nude] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this drawing of a standing female nude with charcoal on paper. I love the searching quality of the line, tentative and bold at the same time, as if each mark is a question. The charcoal feels dry and crumbly, clinging to the paper, creating a delicate, almost fragile surface. It's a dance between control and chance, where the artist allows the medium to have its say. The way the charcoal lingers, smudging in places, creates shadows that suggest form and weight, particularly around the figure's back and hip. Look at the economy of the hand, just a few lines describe its form. This reminds me of Matisse's drawings, where line becomes sculpture. Diebenkorn's drawing feels like a fleeting moment, an exploration of form and space. It reminds us that art is not about capturing reality, but about the process of seeing, feeling, and translating the world around us.