Rear View of Standing Nude 

This is a pencil drawing of a nude female figure from behind, made by Mark Rothko. Although Rothko became famous for his abstract paintings, he actually began his career with representational art. Here, the softness of the pencil allowed Rothko to suggest form through delicate gradations of tone, and the paper provides a warm, textured ground. The immediacy of the graphite on paper conveys a sense of intimacy, as though we are witnessing Rothko's direct observation and rendering of the human form. The marks on the paper are themselves traces of the artist's actions, the pressure and movement of his hand shaping the figure before us. The visible lines and erasures add to the drawing's authenticity. They remind us of the artist’s labor, the decisions, and revisions involved in the creative process. Ultimately, this drawing invites us to appreciate the skill and sensitivity required to translate a three-dimensional subject onto a two-dimensional surface. It also prompts us to consider how “traditional” art-making materials can be used in innovative ways.