Street Scene 1937

Mark Rothko painted this “Street Scene” with oil, focusing on the light and form of a building facade and figures. I love how the color palette here is very subtle; browns, grays, and creams which create a muted effect. The brushstrokes are visible, so the process of painting is right there on the surface, almost like a dance between control and chance. Look closely at the way Rothko handles the paint. It’s not about hiding the process but revealing it. The figures on the right are not particularly defined, almost part of the wall they are against. It reminds me of other figurative paintings of the period which explored similar territory, such as Milton Avery, where the artists were trying to find a balance between representation and abstraction. Ultimately, this painting is a record of a process, a set of decisions made in the studio, and an exploration of the many ways of seeing.