1969 1969

This large, dark painting was made by Mark Rothko in 1969, not long before he died. It’s oil paint, but you might mistake it for something else – maybe dyed fabric, or even just a wall. Up close, you can see how the paint has soaked into the canvas, staining it. There’s a definite edge along the sides, but it’s ragged and uneven, with a border of layered paint and bare canvas, like torn paper. The color is so intense it’s hard to name. Is it black? Blue? Is there a hint of purple in there? Rothko was all about feeling, and maybe you’ll feel something when you look at this painting. Or maybe you won’t. It’s not like he’s telling you what to think. He’s just leaving space for something to happen. Agnes Martin’s quiet canvases are a good comparison to this work, as they both want you to experience art in the space between colour and texture.