Portrait (Untitled) 1939

Mark Rothko made this painting, using oil on canvas, at an unknown date. Looking at this painting, I can see how Rothko, like all of us, tried things out as he explored the world. The colors are earthy and muted, with these sort of strange and stark verticals and horizontals that push and pull against each other. Look at that figure! And behind, this pink wall. Why? I find myself wondering what Rothko was thinking, what he was feeling when he put the brush to the canvas? Was he struggling with representation, or was he trying to find a balance between figuration and abstraction? The texture of the paint is thin, almost like a stain. The way the figure leans against the green dresser reminds me of other painters who were exploring similar themes, like Bonnard. Painting is a conversation across time, with artists building on each other's ideas, inspiring each other to push the boundaries of what's possible.