Two Figures [verso] c. 1930

This is a drawing by Mark Rothko of two figures in white on a black background. I can imagine Rothko making this, trying to figure something out. There’s an energy in these white lines, aren’t they great? Each one feels like a thought, a decision made swiftly. Was he trying to capture some kind of human interaction? Look at the figure on the left, the hat is a cool touch. The way the lines loop and connect, it reminds me that painting is like thinking out loud. Rothko is famous for those big, blurry color blocks that seem to float on the canvas, but this shows us he was also into line and form. I love seeing how different artists play with these basic elements. It reminds me that we're all part of this never-ending conversation, trying new things and riffing off each other.