Reclining Female with Head Supported by Right Hand 

Mark Rothko created this pencil on paper drawing, "Reclining Female with Head Supported by Right Hand," at an unknown date. The early part of the twentieth century saw the rise of new theories of sexuality and identity. These changing attitudes influenced the way artists like Rothko portrayed the human body. This drawing presents a female figure in a moment of repose, her posture suggesting introspection. Rothko, who was deeply influenced by mythology and philosophy, may have sought to capture a universal expression of human emotion through the female form. The choice of a reclining pose has historical roots in art history, yet the vulnerability and intimacy Rothko captures moves away from the traditional representations of women. Consider the emotional depth conveyed through simple lines and shading. Rothko’s exploration of form and figure here lays the groundwork for his later, more abstract works, where color and space evoke profound emotional responses.