Side View of Seated Nude, Right Leg Extended, Left Leg Tucked Under 

This drawing is a nude study by Mark Rothko, rendered in graphite on paper. The composition focuses on a seated figure viewed from the side, with one leg extended and the other tucked. Rothko's use of line is economical yet expressive, delineating the contours of the body with a sensitivity to volume and form. The sketch is characterized by its open structure and incompleteness. Rothko uses the white space to suggest form, creating a dynamic interplay between presence and absence. The sketch seems to capture the subject's essence rather than providing a detailed representation. Looking at this early work, we can see that Rothko's structural approach extends beyond the abstract color fields for which he is best known. The careful organization of lines here not only defines the figure, but also anticipates his later exploration of space and emotion through abstract means. Art remains a field of constant discovery.