Standing Woman in Floor-length Robe Seen from the Back 

Mark Rothko made this drawing of a standing woman in a floor-length robe with graphite on paper. This sketch from the early part of his career is an interesting contrast to the large abstract color field paintings for which he is best known. It represents the figure of a woman, but the treatment of the subject is striking. The figure appears disembodied and sketched with loose lines. This work shows Rothko's engagement with modern art movements such as expressionism and surrealism that emphasized subjective experience. These art movements reflected the alienation and uncertainty felt by many in the early twentieth century. He was exploring ways to express the human condition in a rapidly changing world. To fully understand Rothko's art we must study a range of resources, from the archives of museums and galleries, to the voices of contemporary critics and fellow artists. We see the social conditions that shaped his artistic development. We understand the public role of art as a space to reflect on our shared humanity.