Studies of boats and a head [verso] 

Mark Rothko created "Studies of boats and a head" using an unknown medium on paper, leaving us with a work that subtly reflects his journey as an artist. Rothko, born in Latvia, was Jewish, and his identity deeply influenced his artistic expression. This sketch provides an intimate look into Rothko's process. The juxtaposition of boats and a head invites reflection on themes of identity, passage, and perhaps the artist's own search for belonging. Rothko once said, "I'm not interested in relationships of color or form or anything else... I'm interested only in expressing basic human emotions—tragedy, ecstasy, doom." While seemingly simple, the sketch hints at the complex emotional and intellectual undercurrents that would later define Rothko's abstract expressionist works. The boats, symbols of travel, combined with the human figure, suggest an exploration of personal and collective histories. It's a poignant reminder of how personal history shapes artistic vision.