Untitled [standing female nude with left hand on hip] [recto] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this drawing of a standing nude, likely using charcoal or a similar dry medium, on paper. The marks are so pared back, like he is finding the form as he goes. I am interested in the way Diebenkorn allows the ghost of previous lines to remain visible. These erasures and adjustments give a sense of movement and time passing. Look at the figure’s right leg, how the line quality varies from assertive to almost invisible. The texture of the paper is crucial, creating a tooth that catches the charcoal and allows it to crumble and disperse, giving a sense of vulnerability to the image. It makes me think of Matisse's line drawings, but with a kind of Californian sun-baked dryness. With both artists, there is a sense of joy in the simplicity and directness of the medium. It is like they’re showing us how much can be achieved with the bare minimum.