Untitled [standing nude with scarf] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn drew this standing nude with a scarf sometime in the 20th century, using graphite on paper. The sketchy quality of the graphite lines suggests that it was a study or quick observation. You know, sometimes the most interesting thing about a drawing is the way the artist edits and re-draws lines as they go. Look at the way he's built up the area of the model's mid-thigh with lots of quick, dark scribbles. It's like he's shading, but the marks are so active and restless. It reminds me of Cy Twombly, although Diebenkorn's overall approach is more grounded in observation. It's not a perfect likeness but it has energy. I like how he's indicated the scarf with a few wispy lines that almost disappear into the background. It reminds me that drawing is also about not drawing - about suggestion and implication. It’s like a conversation, where what’s left unsaid matters as much as what's spoken.