Untitled [woman seated at tabletop] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this drawing of a woman seated at a table, we don't know exactly when, but it feels immediate. It’s all about process, you can almost see him working and reworking his lines, trying to capture the weight and presence of the figure. I love the simplicity here, just pencil on paper. The texture of the paper itself becomes part of the drawing. Diebenkorn uses these quick, sketchy lines that feel both tentative and confident at the same time. Look at the way he renders the shadow on the woman's face – such economy, yet it tells you everything you need to know. And notice those accidental marks and smudges, little imperfections that add to its charm. This piece reminds me a little of Matisse’s drawings, that same focus on line and form. But Diebenkorn’s got his own thing going on, a kind of raw honesty. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t always have to be polished or perfect, sometimes the most powerful work is the stuff that shows its workings.