Untitled (woman under tree) [reverse] 1937 - 1938

Editor: This is Mark Rothko's "Untitled (woman under tree) [reverse]," painted in oil sometime between 1937 and 1938. There's something both restful and unsettling about the figure; she seems pensive. What social undercurrents do you see informing this painting? Curator: What strikes me is how Rothko situates the female figure within a landscape, almost melding her into it. During this period, many women artists were exploring their relationship with nature as a way to redefine traditional representations of femininity. Rothko, while a male artist, seems to be engaging in a similar dialogue. Consider the Depression era—did this artistic focus on the individual’s emotional landscape arise as a way of dealing with collective trauma? Editor: So, are you saying the painting possibly reflects the struggles or emotional weight experienced by women in that time, and Rothko's attempt to understand or portray that? Curator: Precisely. It’s more than just a portrait; it’s an exploration of identity and place. The blurry, almost indistinct features challenge conventional portraiture. This hints at a broader interrogation of societal roles, specifically those imposed on women, and perhaps even the artist's own shifting identity within a changing world. Editor: That makes me look at it differently, considering his own immigrant experience. Thanks! Curator: Of course. This period really solidified my understanding of his contribution. Looking closely allows the paintings to speak in unexpected ways.