Seated Woman with Arms Crossed in Lap [recto] 

Mark Rothko made this sketch of a "Seated Woman with Arms Crossed in Lap" in pencil on paper. The image presents us with a direct yet ambiguous figure. Rothko's choice to depict a seated woman invites contemplation on societal roles and expectations. What constraints is this woman under? Is she resigned, defiant, or simply contemplative? Made during a time of changing social mores, this work perhaps reflects a broader cultural conversation about the place of women in American society. Was Rothko making a progressive statement, or simply observing the world around him? To address such questions, we can look into the archives of the period, the exhibition reviews, and the artist's own statements. Through close examination and contextual research, the meaning of art emerges as a product of its time.