Large Seated Nude, Three-quarter View Facing Right, Seen from Behind 

Mark Rothko made this drawing of a seated nude with graphite on paper. The nude, a traditional subject in Western art, becomes in Rothko's hand a study in form and abstraction, moving away from strict representation. Produced during a period of significant social and artistic change, this work reflects the artist's grappling with established artistic conventions. Consider the time in which it was made; the mid-20th century saw radical shifts in social norms and expectations, with older traditions being challenged. The figure's anonymity, turned away from us, suggests an introspection, perhaps even a critique of the objectification inherent in earlier nudes. Rothko was associated with the rise of Abstract Expressionism, a movement rooted in challenging traditional artistic institutions. By studying historical documents, artists' writings, and critical essays, we can better understand how this drawing speaks to the social and institutional contexts of its time, and grasp the public role of art.