Two Seated Boys, One Plaing a Stringed Musical Instrument 

Mark Rothko made this sketch of 'Two Seated Boys, One Playing a Stringed Musical Instrument' using pen on paper. It depicts a tender moment of youthful leisure. Rothko, a Jewish immigrant who fled persecution in Russia, engaged in progressive politics and social justice issues. This image might be seen in the light of debates around social realism that were taking place at the time, in the United States. The New Deal of the 1930s saw new attempts to create art for a mass audience, and the image of children, often from deprived backgrounds, had a prominent place in this movement. But Rothko resisted this kind of straightforward depiction of social realities. His sketchy lines suggest something less prescriptive, something more suggestive of an encounter, a mood, or perhaps a memory. Historians look at Rothko’s broader social and political engagements, and consider the artist’s intentions in relation to the expectations of his audience. This type of research helps us to understand the complexities of this image.