Face in Profile to Right 

This drawing was made by Mark Rothko using ink on paper. Rothko is best known for his abstract paintings, but here, we see him working with the most basic and immediate of artistic gestures: the drawn line. The ink, fluid and dark, stands in sharp contrast to the stark white of the paper. Look closely, and you'll notice the line isn't continuous, but made up of many small marks. This suggests a process of careful consideration, of Rothko feeling his way around the form. The marks are immediate, without any sense of erasing, or reworking. Though quickly made, a drawing like this reveals something essential about the artist’s process. It reminds us that even the most seemingly spontaneous work is rooted in a deep engagement with materials, and the simple act of putting pen to paper. It is another reminder to appreciate the labor behind every artwork, regardless of its apparent simplicity.