Seated Woman with Eyeglasses Turned to the Left, Hands on Lap 

Mark Rothko sketched this seated woman with eyeglasses, her hands clasped, her gaze averted. The hands, clasped in the lap, are a powerful motif, often associated with introspection and restraint. Consider depictions of Mary, the mother of Christ, in countless Renaissance paintings. Her hands are frequently folded in prayer, or rest peacefully in her lap, symbolizing humility and contemplation. Now, in Rothko’s sketch, the gesture feels different. The woman's hands appear tense. This subtle shift reflects a modern sensibility, infused with psychological complexity. Such gestures echo through time, each iteration colored by its historical and cultural moment. Rothko captures an underlying anxiety; the woman’s introspection seems less serene, more burdened. In viewing art, we are drawn into a dialogue across centuries, where gestures and symbols resonate, transformed, yet still connected to the emotional currents of our collective past.