Untitled 1945

Mark Rothko made this untitled oil on canvas, with its superimposed layers and diffuse patches of colour, at an unknown date. Rothko, along with other abstract expressionists like Jackson Pollock, emerged in the US during the 1940s, as the country was consolidating its global power after the Second World War. Abstract expressionism’s focus on individual expression resonated with the prevailing ideology of freedom and individualism. This was also a period when the Museum of Modern Art in New York was establishing the canon of modern art, further reinforcing the narrative of individual genius. Rothko, however, was skeptical of institutions and resisted interpretations of his work as purely formalist exercises. This painting, with its subdued palette and ghostly shapes, hints at deeper psychological or even spiritual themes. To understand Rothko's work more fully, we can look into his personal history, his writings, and the broader intellectual climate of his time. Art history isn't just about the artwork, but also the world around it.