Nude Reclining on a Rug 

Mark Rothko sketched *Nude Reclining on a Rug* with graphite on paper. Rothko, born in Latvia in 1903, migrated to the United States, where he would later become known for his abstract expressionist paintings. This piece, however, suggests a traditional academic training in figurative art. Here, the reclining nude is a well-worn trope in the history of art. But notice how the figure seems lost in contemplation, her face turned away, inviting us to consider her inner world rather than her external beauty. Consider, too, the rug upon which she reclines. It anchors her, but also hints at the cultural and societal contexts that shape female identity. This piece perhaps offers a glimpse into the artist's early exploration of form and emotion, a prelude to the transcendent experiences his later works would evoke. It's an intimate portrait, inviting us to ponder the complexities of identity, representation, and the silent dialogues that art initiates across time.