Standing Nude, Three-quarter View to the Right, Hands behind Back 

Mark Rothko made this ink on paper drawing, Standing Nude, at an unknown date. As a trained artist Rothko was aware of a long tradition of male artists representing the female nude. This began in classical antiquity and continued throughout the Renaissance and into the modern period. While the nude was seen to represent idealized beauty, it also objectified women. Rothko subverts this convention by depicting a fleshy rather than idealized body. The woman stands with her hands behind her back, as though she has been placed on display for inspection. The seemingly casual sketch-like quality of the drawing almost acts as a critique of the tradition. The work can be better understood by looking at other examples of nude studies throughout art history. Understanding the politics of imagery and how social conditions shape artistic production can help us form a more nuanced understanding of this drawing.