Untitled [woman in a sleeveless dress seated with pillows] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this untitled drawing of a seated woman using ink on paper. The stark black lines against the white paper create a sense of immediacy and rawness. The composition is dominated by the figure, yet the negative space around her is equally important in defining her form. Diebenkorn's approach to line is expressive, almost calligraphic, capturing the essence of the figure with minimal detail. This reduction to essential forms echoes the modernist exploration of abstraction while retaining a representational element. It's as if Diebenkorn is asking: what is the least amount of information needed to convey the most meaning? The sketch destabilizes the traditional portrait by focusing on the structure and form rather than minute details. It prompts us to consider how line and shape alone can communicate volume, emotion, and presence. In doing so, the drawing functions as an investigation into the fundamental elements of visual language.