Nude Lying on Stomach, Head Raised to Viewer 

This drawing, "Nude Lying on Stomach, Head Raised to Viewer", is by Mark Rothko. The linear structure of the black ink on the white background results in a composition that is both intimate and stark. Rothko employs a fluid, almost nervous line to capture the figure’s pose, emphasizing contour over volume. The raised head and direct gaze establish a confrontation with the viewer, challenging traditional notions of the nude as a passive object. The semiotic system here hinges on the balance between visibility and concealment; the nude is exposed, yet the sketchy quality implies a hidden or emerging identity. The drawing exists not as a definitive statement but as an exploration, inviting us to participate in the act of seeing and interpreting. This open-endedness serves as a precursor to Rothko's later abstract works, which similarly invite viewers into a space of contemplation and subjective experience. The very act of viewing becomes part of the artwork's unfolding narrative.