Untitled (man with green face) 1934 - 1935

Editor: This is an oil painting from 1934-35 by Mark Rothko, “Untitled (man with green face)”. It's definitely striking. The green skin really jumps out, creating this feeling of unease. What's your take on this piece, particularly given the historical context? Curator: The "green face" indeed creates an unsettling feeling, and I see it as Rothko engaging with the socio-political anxieties of the 1930s. Expressionism was in full swing, a movement often used to express inner turmoil through distortion and exaggeration. How do you think this choice of colour and style might reflect the political climate of the time, leading up to World War II? Editor: Well, the unconventional coloring and somewhat crude brushwork could symbolize a world that's not quite right, distorted by political tension and impending conflict. Maybe the green symbolizes decay or sickness? Curator: Precisely. And think about the institutions of art at the time. Modernism, and particularly movements like Expressionism, were battling for legitimacy within established galleries and museums. This painting challenges traditional portraiture conventions, doesn't it? It asks viewers to reconsider what a portrait can represent beyond mere physical likeness. Does the subject's greenness, along with his somber attire, perhaps critique established power structures, those who perpetuated traditionalism? Editor: That makes a lot of sense. It’s not just about the individual but a statement against the status quo. So Rothko wasn’t just painting a man with a green face, but rather painting a statement *about* the man, *about* society, and *about* art itself? Curator: Exactly. He’s inviting us to question the prevailing norms, not just in art but in the world. Editor: Wow, I definitely see the painting in a new light now. Thanks for helping me see all that.