Untitled [back and buttocks view of a kneeling female nude] [recto/verso] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this drawing of a kneeling female nude with what looks like quick, energetic strokes of graphite on paper. You can almost feel the artist circling the form, trying to capture the weight and volume of the figure. I imagine Diebenkorn, in his studio, moving around the model, constantly adjusting his perspective. He's probably thinking about Cézanne, about how to translate three dimensions onto a flat surface. Those layered lines, they’re not just about contour; they're about the push and pull of space. Notice how the density of the marks creates a sense of shadow and depth, particularly around the back and buttocks. It's like he's sculpting with line, trying to find the essence of the figure. Diebenkorn’s exploration of form and space reminds me of my own struggles in the studio. It's a reminder that art is a conversation, an ongoing dialogue between artists across time.