Untitled [man with glasses holding a cup] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this drawing of a man with glasses holding a cup, with pencil on paper. The artist's been feeling his way around the page, capturing the essence of this figure with lines that are both tentative and sure. Look at how the delicate marks define the contour of the man's face, from the curve of his nose to the gentle rounding of his cheek. Diebenkorn invites us into his observational process. You can imagine the artist stepping back, squinting, and then leaning in again, adjusting his marks until they feel just right. The man seems lost in thought, perhaps contemplating the contents of his cup, or maybe just lost in the quiet contemplation of the moment. This guy looks like he could be one of the many artists that inspired Diebenkorn's creative practice. So many different aesthetics in dialogue. It makes me happy to be a painter, like them.