Untitled [reclining nude resting her head on her right hand] 1955 - 1967

This brush and ink drawing of a reclining nude, head in hand, was made by Richard Diebenkorn. The drawing is made from bold gestural marks that describe the figure while simultaneously dissolving her into the ground around her. Imagine Diebenkorn’s focus as he laid down these confident marks, quickly and efficiently capturing the pose. I feel like he’s figuring out form with each brushstroke. The black ink almost vibrates against the whiteness of the paper, creating a sense of depth and movement. What was he thinking as he decided where to leave the ground untouched? Did he want the figure to appear weightless or was he simply exploring the possibilities of the medium? Painters like Diebenkorn are always in conversation with each other, working out ways of seeing and representing the world. This drawing to me is about that process. It is a conversation between observation and interpretation. It's an invitation to consider not only what we see, but how we see.