Untitled [study of a woman with an earring facing right] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn sketched this study of a woman with an earring, likely on paper, and without a set date. There’s something so direct about the immediacy of a drawing. You can see the artist figuring things out in real-time. It's like a map of his looking. The thing that strikes me in this drawing is the economy of line. Diebenkorn uses these long, flowing lines to capture the pose of the model. Look at how the line travels down the back of the figure, arcing around to define her arm. It’s not just a line; it’s a movement, a gesture. And then there's her face in profile, which has a quiet, contemplative expression. The earring almost feels like an afterthought, a small detail that brings her alive. This kind of drawing reminds me of Matisse, that simple power. These drawings aren't about perfection, they’re about presence.