Seated Female Examining Her Hands 

Mark Rothko drew this sketch, Seated Female Examining Her Hands, with pen and ink on paper. Though Rothko is best known for his abstract paintings, this drawing provides an intimate glimpse into his process. Pen and ink on paper is a humble, direct medium, and the line appears unstudied, almost casual. The speed of execution suggests immediacy and a fleeting moment captured. The figure’s posture and the act of examining her hands imply a sense of introspection. The drawing feels both unfinished and complete, an interesting tension. Rothko's focus on the essentials strips away the unnecessary, allowing for a raw, almost vulnerable expression to emerge. His technique, so economical with line, emphasizes the fundamental quality of the material itself: paper and ink, brought together to create form. This underscores how even in the simplest of mediums, the artist’s hand, mind, and process are central to understanding the work's emotional depth.