Standing Nude Turned to the Right, Hands on Hips 

Mark Rothko made this ink drawing, "Standing Nude Turned to the Right, Hands on Hips," on paper sometime during his career. Rothko, an artist known for his abstract expressionist paintings, here engages with the traditional subject of the nude figure. Consider the cultural context of Rothko's time. How does this work relate to the male gaze and the representation of women in art history? The woman stands confidently, her hands assertively placed on her hips, yet her gaze is averted. The use of ink lends an immediacy to the work, a sense of capturing a fleeting moment. It invites us to think about how identity and power are represented through the pose and expression. Despite the traditional subject matter, Rothko subtly challenges conventional depictions. It's an intimate portrayal of the artist's exploration of form, but also an engagement with the complex dynamics of looking and being seen.