Untitled [torso of reclining female nude] 1955 - 1967

This sketch of a reclining nude is by Richard Diebenkorn, and was made with graphite on paper. The pressure of the graphite varies across the paper. In some areas, the lines are dark and defined; in others, they are more like a suggestion. I’m imagining Diebenkorn making this—moving quickly, trying to capture the fleeting moment of light and shadow on the model’s body. His focus on the torso makes me think about how artists choose what to show and what to leave out. It reminds me of my own process, where editing and subtraction are just as important as adding layers. The scribbled lines create a sense of volume and depth and remind me of the way other artists, like Matisse, use line to describe form. I wonder if Diebenkorn was thinking about Matisse when he made this drawing? Artists are always in conversation with each other. Thinking, borrowing, reacting. It's beautiful, like one long, endless game of telephone.