Standing Nude Turned to the Right, Arms Raised to Head 

Mark Rothko made this drawing of a standing nude figure, turned to the right, using graphite on paper. The composition focuses on the play of lines that define the contours of the human form. Rothko uses hatching to create a sense of volume and shadow, yet the figure remains somewhat flat, existing more as an idea of a body than a realistic depiction. The raised arms obscure the face, which removes individuality and invites us to consider the figure as a study in form and structure. This approach can be interpreted through a structuralist lens, viewing the body not as a subject, but as a sign within a larger system of representation. Rothko challenges the traditional nude, focusing instead on the abstract qualities of shape and line. The visible pencil strokes and the unfinished quality of the sketch further emphasize the process of creation over the final product. The sketch, in its apparent simplicity, asks us to look beyond the surface representation and engage with the underlying structures that give rise to meaning in art.