Various Flowers 

This is a drawing of various flowers by Mark Rothko. It consists of many flowers and leaves sketched in black ink on a tan or beige piece of paper. At first glance, this simple drawing seems unusual for Rothko. We mostly know him for his large color field paintings. These images, though, show us that he was equally adept at capturing form with lines. Look at how each line varies in thickness and pressure. Some outlines appear smooth and continuous, while others are built up from short, broken strokes. Notice, too, how Rothko leaves some forms unfinished. The outlines of some petals fade away, and the paper is visible through the forms. The quick and confident marks suggest he worked rapidly, capturing the essence of each flower with minimal effort. The drawing might be considered a mere study, not a ‘finished’ work of art. Yet, these lines reflect Rothko's mastery of materials and processes. This drawing reveals the foundational skills that underpin even his most celebrated abstract works. The drawing challenges traditional distinctions between craft and fine art, because, at heart, all art relies on the act of making.