Rear View of a Seated Figure with Arms Raised Above Head [verso] 

Mark Rothko sketched this figure with arms raised above its head, on a simple sheet of paper. The posture, reaching upwards, carries echoes of ancient gestures of supplication or despair. Consider the orant figures in early Christian art, their raised arms symbolizing prayer and connection to the divine. Yet, here, the figure is viewed from behind, anonymous, and perhaps alienated. The raised arms also remind us of the ecstatic gestures found in depictions of maenads, the female followers of Dionysus, who surrender to frenzied revelry. Over time, this motif has been passed down through history, shifting in meaning depending on its context. This ambiguous pose taps into our collective memory, engaging us on a subconscious level. The figure's vulnerability and yearning for something beyond reach resonates deeply, reminding us of the cyclical progression of human emotions across time. The symbol has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in a contemporary context.