Paris Street Scene with Arch at Left 

Mark Rothko made this watercolor painting, "Paris Street Scene with Arch at Left," likely during his travels in Europe in the 1930s. It's a fascinating glimpse into his early artistic development, before he arrived at his signature abstract style. The subject matter here is fairly conventional, even conservative: a street in Paris, rendered in a quick, impressionistic style. We can see how the architecture is simplified into blocks of color. Rothko uses purple and brown tones that create a somber and moody effect. Paris in the 1930s was a hotbed of artistic innovation and experimentation, and this work is a young artist finding his way through the artistic establishment. Art history is all about context. By looking at Rothko’s early work, his influences, and the social currents of his time, we can understand his later radical departure from traditional painting, and this city scene provides a crucial insight. It can also help us explore the institutions of art education that shaped his formation.