Untitled 1942

This small, untitled painting was made by Mark Rothko with oil on canvas. It’s like a peek into his process, a moment where he's figuring things out. The colors feel muted, almost like they’re whispering secrets. It’s interesting to see how he layers the paint, not trying to hide the brushstrokes but letting them be part of the conversation. Look at the way the zig-zagging lines are built up from individual strokes, how they are alternately revealed and obscured by the flat planes of colour which sit alongside them. It reminds me of a curtain, but at the same time, it's a construction site, a work in progress. This piece feels related to the early work of someone like Marsden Hartley, who was also experimenting with abstraction and symbolism. But where Hartley's work feels more defined, Rothko's is softer, more about feeling and atmosphere. It’s a reminder that art isn't about answers, but about asking questions and embracing the unknown.