Untitled [female nude seated on floor] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this ink drawing of a seated female nude on paper, though we don't know exactly when. I love how Diebenkorn's process feels so present in the work; it's like we’re seeing his thinking, the way he’s figuring out the form with each stroke. The ink is fluid, almost watery in places, creating these beautiful transparent washes that define the shadows and contours of her body. You can see how he layers the ink, building up the density in certain areas, like around her legs and torso, giving a real sense of weight and volume. But then, elsewhere, the lines are so delicate and tentative, like he's barely touching the paper. Look at the face; the features are barely there, just a few suggestive marks, yet they convey so much. It’s this balance between specificity and ambiguity that makes the drawing so compelling to me. Diebenkorn reminds me a bit of Matisse in his use of line and his interest in capturing the essence of a form with minimal means. It's this ongoing conversation across time, this exploration of the possibilities of art that keeps me hooked.