Female Nude Standing on Carpet, Hands Behind Head 

Mark Rothko made this drawing of a standing nude figure on paper, using simple pencil lines. The visible, raw quality of the graphite emphasizes the human touch, revealing his process of studying the figure. You can almost see him experimenting with line weights, angles, and proportions. The casualness of the carpet she stands on hints at a relaxed intimacy, grounding the figure in a domestic, relatable space. This is no marble goddess, but a person, seen in the context of daily life. The drawing's unpretentious materials and straightforward technique challenge the traditional art world's emphasis on grand gestures and elaborate techniques. Rothko seems to be questioning the divide between everyday observation and high art. The drawing encourages us to look beyond conventional notions of beauty and consider the simple act of seeing, and representing what is seen, as a valuable form of artistic expression.