Female Figure Seated in a Chair [recto] 

Mark Rothko rendered this drawing of a "Female Figure Seated in a Chair" with graphite on paper. The stark lines define the figure and chair, focusing our attention on their geometric relationships. The composition, spare and direct, invites us to consider the structural framework Rothko employs. Observe how the angular lines forming the chair's back contrast with the softer curves delineating the woman's form. Rothko uses hatching and cross-hatching to add depth and shadow, particularly noticeable in the chair. This not only gives volume to the figure but also creates a sense of tension between the solid and void spaces. Here, representation is stripped to its essentials, challenging our expectations of traditional portraiture. The drawing prompts a consideration of how line and form can convey both presence and absence, inviting us to look beyond mere depiction toward the underlying structures of visual language.