Frontal Nude, Right Leg Bent at Knee, Hands Behind 

This is a pen and ink drawing by Mark Rothko, depicting a standing nude. The seemingly simple medium belies the skill involved in creating a sense of form and depth with just a few lines. The choice of pen and ink is significant. It's a direct, immediate medium, unforgiving of mistakes. Rothko's quick, confident strokes capture the essence of the figure, focusing on the overall shape and gesture rather than minute details. The starkness of the black ink against the blank paper creates a powerful contrast, highlighting the contours of the body. This drawing feels like a study, an exercise in capturing the human form with minimal means. Rothko's choice of materials and techniques reflects an engagement with the fundamentals of art-making. It reminds us that even the simplest tools can be used to create something expressive and compelling, challenging any hierarchy that values grand materials over fundamental skill.