Untitled [standing female nude turned left] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this ink drawing of a standing female nude, sometime during his career. The speed of the marks, the way the lines vary in thickness and intensity, it all suggests a fleeting moment captured with incredible focus. It really speaks to me about the nature of artmaking as a process. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the page. Notice how the ink bleeds slightly into the paper, creating soft, blurred edges? And then there are those bold, decisive strokes that define the outline of her body, especially around the left leg of the model which is described with these intense, dark, almost scribbled lines. This contrast between delicacy and strength is what gives the drawing its energy. The seemingly casual nature of the drawing reminds me of Matisse. Ultimately, Diebenkorn’s drawing invites us to see the world with fresh eyes, and to appreciate the beauty in the everyday.