Phalanx of the Mind 1945

Mark Rothko made this painting, Phalanx of the Mind, with oil on canvas. The overall palette is muted, with warm browns and grays punctuated by sharp lines and geometric shapes. I can imagine Rothko in the studio, grappling with form, line and balance. He’s pushing and pulling, adding and subtracting, as the image slowly comes into being. Look at how Rothko has used line to create a kind of scaffolding. There’s a dynamism in these lines, a sense of movement and energy contained within the stillness of the canvas. Then, see how the diamond shapes are placed, like abstract figures, each one slightly different, each with its own character. The texture and color, the scraping of paint, create depth and emotional weight. The shapes are also like thoughts or feelings, solid yet permeable, arranging themselves in my own mind as I look at them. Rothko's work resonates with other painters, too. It’s like he’s in conversation with artists across time, responding to their ideas, pushing back, and forging his own path. Ultimately, painting is this embodied expression. It embraces uncertainty and allows multiple interpretations to exist.