Studies of a Head of a Woman [recto] 

Mark Rothko, born in Latvia and later an American citizen, made these pencil Studies of a Head of a Woman. Rothko, though known for abstract expressionism, began with figurative works, often exploring themes of identity and emotional states. These sketches of a woman’s head invite us to consider the gaze and representation of women in art. The bowed head and closed eyes evoke introspection or perhaps sorrow, common themes in the art world particularly for female subjects, often portrayed in passive or melancholic states. As a Jewish immigrant in America during periods of intense social change and displacement, Rothko was deeply attuned to the complexities of human experience. His shift towards abstraction can be seen as a move away from traditional forms of representation towards a more universal language of emotion, one rooted in personal and collective histories. The artist sought to express profound emotional truths, aiming to create art that resonated with the viewer on a deeply human level. What do you feel when you look at these women?