Figure Studies 

These "Figure Studies" were created by Mark Rothko, using graphite on paper. Rothko is best known for his large, luminous abstract paintings, but here, we see him working in a more preliminary mode, exploring the figure. The immediacy of graphite allows Rothko to capture fleeting impressions and experiment with composition. It's a humble, direct medium, accessible and unpretentious. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the paper, mapping out the contours of the figures. This directness challenges traditional notions of artistic skill, emphasizing instead the artist's process of thinking through form and space. Rothko's use of graphite suggests a democratic approach to art-making, stripping away the artifice and emphasizing the raw, unmediated connection between artist and subject. It underscores the importance of these preliminary stages.