Seated Woman in a Blue Dress 

Mark Rothko painted 'Seated Woman in a Blue Dress' using traditional oil paints on canvas. The painting's rough texture and visible brushstrokes are the direct result of Rothko's application technique. The materiality of the paint is important here: Rothko thinned his paints, allowing them to soak into the canvas, creating blurred edges and a sense of depth. We see a figure, but only just. The expressive color palette and the figure's form evoke a sense of introspection and perhaps even melancholy. The process of layering and blending colors creates subtle variations and tonal shifts that add to the emotional complexity of the work. Rothko, like many artists of his generation, was acutely aware of social issues, including the impact of industrialization on individual lives. By focusing on the materiality and the making of this painting, we can better understand its significance and challenge the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.