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Richard Diebenkorn, Green, 1986

Habitually inclined to rework his compositions, Diebenkorn spoke of wanting to “steal [a] second chance.” A mark resembling an infinity sign in the upper left region of the first working proof is camouflaged in working proof 7 (see banner, above). And a curve in the lower left passage of the first proof gradually morphs into what looks like the upturned tail of a cat (see slideshow, above). In the final print, that tail is absorbed into a volcano-shaped form.

Banner image: Detail, Richard Diebenkorn, Green (working proof 7), 1986, color spitbite aquatint, soapground aquatint, and drypoint with pasted-down elements, Kathan Brown, © The Estate of Richard Diebenkorn

Next: Richard Diebenkorn, Combination, 1981