Untitled (sculptress) 1934 - 1935

Mark Rothko made this painting of a sculptor sometime in the early part of the 20th century, using oil paint on canvas. The first thing I notice is the way he lays down color; loose, gestural, like he’s feeling his way through the scene. It gives the whole piece a kind of provisional, open-ended vibe, like an invitation to play. Look at the figure of the sculptor herself - she's almost swallowed up by these pinks, creams, and grays, which merge and blend together. It reminds me of Bonnard - not the color palette, necessarily, but more the way the figure becomes absorbed into the surrounding space. I find myself drawn to the area around the sculpture itself. The paint here is applied more thickly, with a kind of clumsy tenderness. It feels like Rothko is wrestling with the materiality of paint, trying to coax it into form, much like a sculptor works with clay or stone. For me, this piece embodies the messy, unpredictable process of making art.