Untitled 1963

Mark Rothko's Untitled work is made with oil paint on a large canvas. Rothko, part of the Abstract Expressionist movement, moved away from traditional brushwork, favoring thin washes of color applied in layers. Look closely, and you’ll see how these layers create luminous depth, with colors appearing to glow from within. The softness of the edges, achieved by his technique, also invites you to lose yourself in the color. Rothko’s method involved a lot of physical labor: stretching the canvas, mixing the paints, and repeatedly applying thin glazes, demanding both patience and physical endurance. While seemingly simple, Rothko’s paintings reject the notion that art must represent something tangible. He wanted to communicate fundamental human emotions through color and form. By emphasizing materiality, making, and context, we can appreciate the profound depth and complexity within his work.