Abstraction c. 1944 - 1946

This mixed media work on paper by Mark Rothko uses a palette of muted greys and browns, with pops of fiery orange, layering colour in a way that feels both tentative and assertive. The surface is a playground of textures and transparencies, the application of paint appears almost like an exercise in controlled chaos. See how areas of the composition are built up with thin washes, whilst others are scrubbed and rubbed, creating a sense of depth and history. The central ovoid form, encircled by a halo of reddish-brown, is a particularly interesting zone of activity, its interior seething with a tangle of dark, energetic marks. It feels like looking into a hidden world. Rothko later became known for those large colour field paintings, but seeing this earlier piece, we can really appreciate that art making is an ongoing conversation, embracing ambiguity and multiple interpretations.