A Nude Seen from the Back and Two Studies of Female Heads 

This pencil drawing, "A Nude Seen from the Back and Two Studies of Female Heads," was created by Mark Rothko, though the date is unknown. Rothko was a Jewish immigrant who came to the United States as a child. In this sketch, Rothko engages with the traditional art historical subject of the female nude. He renders it with a certain tentative quality, and with the fragmented studies of female heads, the work has an unfinished air. One can imagine Rothko's personal experiences shaping his artistic perspective, the alienation of being an immigrant, or his awareness of the historical and social context, including the pervasive male gaze in art. Does this work maintain traditional representations of women? Or does the lack of detail, and the turning away of the nude, suggest something else? Ultimately, Rothko's work allows us to reflect on societal expectations, representation, and the emotional dimensions of art, both for the artist and the viewer.