Half-Length Woman Reclining, Looking Right 

Mark Rothko, better known for his large abstract expressionist paintings, rendered "Half-Length Woman Reclining, Looking Right" in ink on paper. Rothko, who immigrated to the U.S. from Russia as a child, initially pursued figurative art before evolving his signature abstract style. This sketch provides a glimpse into the artist's earlier engagement with the figure, in contrast to his later work. The drawing, in its depiction of a reclining woman, invites consideration of historical representations of women in art, often viewed through the lens of the male gaze. Rothko here captures a certain intimate vulnerability in the woman's posture and gaze. The sketch resonates with the quiet moments of introspection, even in its simplicity. It is a reminder that even artists known for grand gestures often begin with the personal, and the intimate.