The scaffold, composed of vertical, horizontal, and angled linear elements, encloses fields of fluctuating depth, delicately balancing space and line. Spatial illusion is created by semi-transparent skins of pigment washed one upon another, concealing, revealing. Pentimenti, records of the artist's decisions made, changed, and remade, are visible on the picture surface. Sometimes rubbed, often thinly veiled, they expose Diebenkorn's intuitive process of picture making. Shadowed diagonals emerge through the clouded films of pigment and even vestiges of curved fragments appear.
Space is built up, layer upon layer, held in check by the overlying linear scaffolding.
This architectural network reinforces the upright rectangular shape of the canvas through narrow bands skimming the left and right edges and horizontal fillets banding the upper border. The preponderance of structural complexity and color interest has been moved to the top of the composition, the lower two-thirds of the canvas open to expanses of blue and cream.