Two Boats 

Mark Rothko created this ink on paper sketch titled “Two Boats”. Rothko, known for his abstract expressionist paintings, here uses a different approach, one that is more closely aligned to social realism. We can see this through the lens of art history, particularly the shift in artistic focus during the early to mid-20th century. Many artists were grappling with social issues and the politics of imagery. The sketch might reflect Rothko's concern with the human condition, perhaps alluding to themes of isolation, journey, or the simple life of a maritime community. This imagery invokes both the natural world and the culture of human enterprise. To fully understand Rothko, we need to look not only at his art but at the world around him: the history, the culture, and the institutions that shaped both him and his art. Social and cultural context is everything.