Untitled [woman holding her chin and reading] 1955 - 1967

Diebenkorn made this drawing of a woman holding her chin and reading, using ink on paper. It's all about the line, isn't it? The thing I like about it is how the quick, decisive marks build the image. You can see the artist thinking, adjusting, as he goes. Take a look at the way he’s rendered her face, especially the eye, it's like a little puzzle of dark and light. And then the hand, so delicately holding her chin, it’s just a few lines but it feels so right. It's not about perfection, it's about capturing a feeling. Diebenkorn had this gift for making something so immediate and personal out of simple materials. It reminds me a bit of Matisse in its fluidity. Ultimately, the drawing invites us to reflect on the act of looking, reading and being present in the moment.