Untitled 1947

This Untitled painting was made by Mark Rothko, sometime in the middle of the 20th century. It’s an artwork where process really shines. The surface is so worked, you can really see the paint doing its thing. It's not just about the image, but about layering, about how the colors bump up against each other. It seems like he might have used big brushes, or maybe rags, to push the paint around. Look at that slash of red across the top – how it bleeds into the white, almost like a stain. It’s not precise, but it's so full of feeling. Then, around the edges, you can see the darker colors creeping in, almost like shadows. Rothko reminds me of the earlier work of Hilma af Klint in that his work is an ongoing investigation of the spiritual in art, through gesture and colour. Ultimately, it's about an experience, not a statement.