Standing Female Nude, Head Tilted Left 

Mark Rothko made this sketch, "Standing Female Nude, Head Tilted Left," with pen and ink on paper. It connects to the longer history of artists studying and depicting the human body. During the early 20th century in the United States, artistic training emphasized anatomy and life drawing. Rothko’s sketch displays a quick, economical line, which might indicate a study done from life. But how does it relate to the art institutions of its time? Academic art, which dominated institutions like the National Academy of Design, prized highly finished and polished nudes. In contrast, Rothko’s sketch is quite informal. To understand this contrast, we might look at the records of art schools or artists' groups, to help us consider how this work engages with the artistic conventions of its time. Studying the cultural context and institutional background allows us to interpret the meaning of art more deeply.