Seated Figure with Eyeglasses, Leaning Back [verso] 

This drawing, "Seated Figure with Eyeglasses, Leaning Back," was made by Mark Rothko, though the date is unknown. Rothko, born in Latvia in 1903 and an immigrant to the United States, is best known for his large, abstract expressionist paintings. This sketch offers a glimpse into an earlier period of his artistic development. We see here not the color fields of his later work, but a figure, rendered simply with bold lines. The choice to depict a seated figure, leaning back, evokes a sense of vulnerability, maybe even introspection. Consider the figure’s gaze, directed upwards, as if contemplating something beyond the immediate. The eyeglasses add an element of intellectualism. How might Rothko, himself an immigrant navigating the complexities of American society, have been exploring themes of identity and perception through this work? This drawing invites us to consider the intimate, human dimensions of an artist whose abstract works became icons of emotional depth.