Seated Woman 

Mark Rothko rendered "Seated Woman" in pencil, revealing an early stage in the artist's stylistic evolution. Rothko, who emigrated from Russia to the United States, navigated the complex intersections of identity, belonging, and artistic expression. This drawing offers a glimpse into Rothko's engagement with the figure, a subject he would later famously abandon. The woman's posture, seemingly casual, invites questions about the representation of the female form and its relationship to power and vulnerability. The use of pencil lends an intimacy to the work. The stark lines against the bare paper evoke a sense of both presence and absence. Rothko's transition from figurative work to abstraction can be seen as a response to the socio-political context of the mid-20th century, marked by war and profound shifts in cultural values. This piece resonates with his later works, inviting viewers to find personal meaning within the artwork and to contemplate the depth of human emotions.