Seated Woman Wearing a Bathing Suit 

Editor: This is "Seated Woman Wearing a Bathing Suit" by Mark Rothko, done in pencil. It feels very immediate and raw. What strikes me most is the seeming economy of the lines. What do you see in it? Curator: For me, this drawing raises questions about the commodification of the human form and the artist's labor. Pencil, a relatively inexpensive and easily accessible material, allows for quick sketches, but also for mass production of images. Think about the socio-economic conditions under which Rothko was working, how this mass production impacts high art, like Rothko's? Editor: So, you’re focusing on the impact of readily available materials? How the tool and speed challenge the perceived value of the artwork? Curator: Exactly. This drawing invites a materialist reading. It's not just about *what* is depicted – a seated woman – but *how* it is depicted. The lines are utilitarian, they almost serve to underscore the figure as something consumable. Rothko’s other work has become highly consumable too…is that a fair comment about his career? Editor: I never thought about how accessible pencil is, and the link you are drawing to commodification. The rawness definitely connects to that idea now. Curator: Thinking about materiality opens new interpretive avenues. We might see an undercurrent of social critique beneath what seems like a simple sketch. Editor: I’m looking at the artwork differently. Thinking about materials provides a fresh way of seeing Rothko, particularly given what I know about his later work! Thanks.