Seated Woman, Head Turned to the Left, Hand Raised to Cheek 

Mark Rothko made this drawing of a seated woman with ink on paper. At first glance, the image might seem simple, even quickly executed, but the beauty of this piece lies in the expressiveness achieved through minimal means. Rothko’s use of line is particularly striking. The ink appears almost casual, but each stroke defines the subject’s form. This approach focuses on the essence of the figure, stripping away detail to reveal something fundamental about human posture and expression. The thinness of the material—ink on paper—allows for an immediacy not possible in, say, painting or sculpture. The negative space is just as important as the drawn lines, creating a sense of lightness and breath. The artist also seems to want to engage with the legacy of drawing as a spontaneous activity. There's an intimacy in his work that invites you to contemplate the relationship between the artist, his materials, and his subject. The drawing exemplifies how the simplest materials, when handled with skill and intention, can convey profound artistic meaning.