Reclining Man [recto] 

Mark Rothko made this drawing, "Reclining Man," with ink on paper. The composition features a single, angular figure against a blank backdrop, evoking a sense of starkness and isolation. The artist employs thin, unbroken lines to define the contours of the reclining figure. The lines, while minimal, suggest the weight and volume of the body, particularly in the rendering of the torso and legs. Cross-hatching is used to render the head. Rothko's choice of line over shading directs our attention to the relationship between form and space. The drawing has a raw, unfinished quality, challenging traditional notions of representation and completeness in art. The artwork is a study in the reduction of form to its most essential elements. It anticipates Rothko's later abstract works, which are renowned for their monumental scale and use of color to elicit emotional and spiritual experiences.