Standing Nude Turned to the Left, Head Sideways 

Editor: Here we have Rothko's "Standing Nude Turned to the Left, Head Sideways," created with pencil and ink. It strikes me how raw the sketch feels. What do you make of the medium and process here? Curator: Well, first we should question the common boundaries between the fine arts and craft-work or ‘low art.’ How does this process differ from Rothko's better known colour field paintings? Does the perceived ‘lack’ of labour in a quick drawing diminish its artistic value relative to the supposed amount of labor present in an oil painting? Or are they both a form of intellectual, artistic labor that needs more understanding? Editor: That's a really interesting point! It feels so immediate and less 'finished' than his later works. Almost like looking at the gears turning. Curator: Exactly! Consider too, the materiality of pencil and paper. These were readily available, relatively inexpensive tools. What social strata do you suppose are represented when an artist opts to employ ‘lowly’ materials like this instead of the costlier materials? Editor: I guess it makes the creation of art seem more accessible. Not something limited to the elite. Curator: Precisely. How might the wider availability of materials impact not only who makes the art, but the message of the work and the culture surrounding it? Editor: It democratizes the means of production, influencing who can participate and what can be expressed. That’s fascinating, it’s changed how I see this drawing. Curator: Indeed! Looking at the materials and process opens up avenues of exploration well beyond the purely aesthetic.