Untitled [seated female nude with hands behind head] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this drawing of a seated nude with charcoal on paper. I love how the minimal use of line lets the figure emerge as if from a mist. It’s like he’s coaxing the form into being, not dictating it. The texture of the charcoal, a bit crumbly, adds a tactile quality. See how the lines vary in weight and pressure? A heavier, darker line might define the curve of a thigh, while a fainter, sketchier one suggests the contour of an arm. The way the figure fills the space, casually confident, reminds me a little of Matisse. But Diebenkorn's mark-making feels more searching, less certain, more like he’s figuring it out as he goes along. It feels like a real, lived experience, not just a formal exercise. Art's always a conversation, right?