Standing Nude, Three-quarter View Facing Left 

Mark Rothko made this ink drawing, Standing Nude, with simple materials: paper and ink. Rothko's use of ink on paper might seem conventional, but it's precisely in this simplicity that we find depth. Look at the way the ink bleeds into the paper. The artist has exploited the absorbent nature of the paper to give the figure a sense of weight and presence. Rothko coaxes volume out of a simple linear structure, which stands in fascinating contrast to the figure's vulnerability. The choice of such basic materials shifts our attention to the act of drawing itself. There is an immediate quality that speaks to the artist’s hand. It is a process that democratizes art, reminding us that profound expression doesn't always require elaborate means. Considering the material and making of this artwork allows us to appreciate Rothko's capacity to create a powerful statement with the most unassuming of means, challenging us to reconsider the value we place on simplicity and the art of drawing.