Untitled [standing female nude: side view] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this untitled drawing of a standing female nude, we don't know when, but it's probably charcoal on paper. I can imagine Diebenkorn’s hand moving quickly, capturing the essence of the figure with just a few lines. There’s a real economy of means here; he suggests so much with so little. It reminds me of Matisse in its simplicity and directness. Look at the way he uses line to define the curves of the body. The line is confident and assured, but it’s also sensitive and responsive to the model. He's not trying to create a perfect likeness but conveying a sense of the figure's weight, volume, and presence. Diebenkorn’s work, like all good painting, shows us a way of seeing, a way of feeling, and a way of being in the world. It resonates with the work of other artists, like Balthus, who were also exploring the human figure in new and interesting ways. The conversation of art-making never ends!