Untitled [female nude seated on floor] 1955 - 1967

This work by Richard Diebenkorn is a drawing of a seated female nude, made with black ink. The washes of ink build up the figure, creating shadows and depth. You can imagine Diebenkorn, brush in hand, quickly capturing the pose, letting the ink flow and pool on the page. It's all about the gesture. Notice how the dark lines define the figure, while the lighter washes suggest the soft curves of the body, how the thickness and thinness of the lines create an energy around the figure. I feel like Diebenkorn is right there in the room with his model and the drawing has the feeling of immediacy. When I look at this work, I also think of Matisse, or maybe even some of those quick, gestural drawings by Picasso. These artists are all in conversation, each riffing off the others, trying to capture something essential about the human form. Each mark feels so loaded, so full of potential. It is as if the artist is thinking through the painting.