Figures in a Seascape [verso] c. 1929

Mark Rothko created this watercolor painting, "Figures in a Seascape," capturing an encounter between humanity and nature. Figures sit by the sea; a universal image of contemplation. Observe how the figures are rendered with an emphasis on color. This echoes ancient depictions of water spirits or deities associated with the sea, where color was used to convey their otherworldly nature. Think of the blue-skinned gods of Hindu art, embodying the boundlessness of the sky and ocean. Here, Rothko simplifies form, reducing figures to blocks of color, yet retains this primal connection to symbolic representation. This interplay between abstraction and figuration taps into our collective memory, stirring emotions linked to our earliest experiences of the natural world. The sea, a symbol of the unconscious, reflects our inner depths. Rothko's masterful use of color and form engages us on a subconscious level, reminding us of the cyclical nature of symbols.