Untitled 1970

This ‘Untitled’ painting was made by Mark Rothko sometime in the mid-20th century using oil on canvas. Look at that red! It’s laid down so thickly that it almost vibrates off the canvas. You can practically feel the texture of the paint, right? The way Rothko layered the paint, thin in some spots and dense in others, creates a luminosity that draws you in. Notice that horizontal stroke across the middle? It is like a horizon line, but feels like a rupture in the red field. Rothko was really interested in how color could evoke emotion, and I think he nailed it. He wanted viewers to have a deeply personal experience with his work, and for me, this is like standing in front of a sunset, just pure feeling. It reminds me of the work of Barnett Newman, who was also working with fields of color. It’s not just paint on canvas; it’s an open invitation to feel.