Figure Studies (Crucifixions) [recto] 

This is a pen and ink drawing called "Figure Studies (Crucifixions)" by Mark Rothko. Born in Russia and immigrating to the United States, Rothko, who was Jewish, was concerned with the universal themes of human existence. He drew inspiration from mythology and religion, particularly Greek tragedies and the crucifixion of Christ, to explore suffering, death, and transcendence. The stark lines and ghostly figures evoke feelings of vulnerability. The figures here have a haunting, ethereal quality, and they are suspended in a space that feels both intimate and infinite. Rothko doesn't just depict the crucifixion as a religious event but rather as a symbol of human suffering. "Pictures must be miraculous," he once said. Rothko uses the image of crucifixion to convey the emotional and spiritual dimensions of human experience. It's about confronting our mortality, recognizing our shared pain, and finding moments of grace within it all.