Untitled [seated woman] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn’s "Untitled [seated woman]" is a study in the power of line, rendered on paper. The drawing captures a seated figure through a network of bold, confident strokes. The composition emphasizes angular forms and the stark contrast between the dark lines and the blank paper. The lines define the contours of the figure, creating a sense of volume and space through minimal means. Diebenkorn’s approach reflects a concern with the fundamental elements of art-making. His lines, while representational, possess a formal independence, almost as if the subject is secondary to the act of drawing itself. This interplay between representation and abstraction destabilizes traditional notions of portraiture, inviting us to consider the act of seeing and depicting. Consider the linear structure here—how it forges not just an image but also an active interrogation of form. This work, therefore, is not simply a drawing but an exploration of art’s potential to challenge fixed meanings.