Frontal Nude Seated with Legs Apart 

This is Mark Rothko’s line drawing, "Frontal Nude Seated with Legs Apart". Rothko, most well-known as one of the leading figures of the abstract expressionist movement, also explored the human figure, often focusing on the nude. Here, the sitter, likely a woman, confronts us directly. Her posture is open, almost defiant, challenging traditional representations of the female nude which often cater to a patriarchal gaze. The figure is rendered with simplicity, yet there is a clear sense of the sitter's presence and weight. In its own way, this drawing is deeply personal. It resonates with raw emotion and unfiltered honesty, inviting viewers to contemplate the complexities of identity and representation. "Pictures must be miraculous," Rothko once said. This sketch, with its unflinching gaze, is miraculous in its own right.