Woman Reclining to the Left, Hands Raised to Head 

Curator: Rothko's "Woman Reclining to the Left, Hands Raised to Head" is rendered simply in pencil, and feels very intimate, like a study. What are your first thoughts? Editor: It feels quite vulnerable, the figure's pose… almost burdened. The sketchiness makes it feel immediate. What can you tell me about it? Curator: The choice of pencil is significant here. It’s accessible, easily erased, a material associated with practice. It directly connects to the means of production, that is, the artist’s labor, challenging any separation of high art and everyday making. Where do you see that labor most clearly? Editor: Maybe in the rendering of the hand on the left; it's much more labored and shadowed. Why make that decision when other parts of the body are only rendered as outlines? Curator: Exactly. And think about how this image might function in relation to Rothko’s larger artistic project, considering how differently he approached material later in his career. A sketch like this foregrounds the hand of the artist in a way that his color field paintings actively obscure. Editor: That's fascinating. I see this as preliminary but now appreciate that that very quality makes a powerful statement about the artist's engagement with the work itself. Curator: Yes! We see Rothko's labor and intentionality even in what might seem unfinished. It transforms our understanding of value. Editor: I see what you mean! I came in with a very emotional reaction, but now I see the artistic intent behind the chosen medium. Thank you. Curator: It was my pleasure. I have learned something from your initial reaction!