Woman in Long Robe, Painting 

Mark Rothko made this drawing, "Woman in Long Robe," with pencil on paper, though its date remains unknown. It offers a glimpse into the artist's early exploration of form and figure. Rothko, who later became famous for his abstract expressionist paintings, began here with a recognizable, if stylized, human form. It's interesting to consider this work within the context of art institutions that often favor finished, polished pieces. This drawing, with its visible erasures and tentative lines, offers a peek behind the curtain, revealing the artistic process. The subject of the drawing, a woman in what appears to be a robe, poses with a tool, perhaps a brush or a pointer. What does she point at? Another artwork? The drawing invites us to question the role of the artist and the institutions that support and exhibit their work. Historical documents, like Rothko's own writings and critical analyses of his oeuvre, might provide clues to interpreting this work.