Untitled (brown and gray) 1969

Mark Rothko made this painting with brown and grey paint on a very large sheet of paper. Imagine him standing in front of it, layering those colors, brown on top, grey below. I’m thinking about Rothko’s headspace as he worked. Was he wrestling with something? Did he keep at it until it felt right, adding layer after layer until he got that hazy color? The paint looks pretty thin, almost stained into the paper. Look how the brown hovers. It doesn’t quite meet the edge, like it’s breathing. It makes me think of other artists, like Agnes Martin, who are also interested in subtlety, in making paintings that vibrate with quiet energy. Isn’t it cool how artists keep talking to each other, even across time? Rothko makes me want to get into the studio right now and start pushing paint around. This piece is like a reminder that painting doesn’t need to be loud or flashy; it can be a space for quiet contemplation, a place where feelings and ideas can slowly unfold.