Untitled (women in a hat shop) c. 1936

This painting, Untitled (women in a hat shop), was made by Mark Rothko and it’s like he’s not just showing us a scene, but a feeling through color. Rothko uses these reds and greens that aren't quite realistic, yet they pulse with life. Look at how the paint is applied, thick in some areas, almost scratched in others. It’s not about perfection, but about the energy of the moment. See the way the red dress on the right almost blends into the background, or the web-like quality of the pink dress on the left, making the forms vibrate. It's a dance between control and letting go. There's something raw and honest about it, like he’s figuring it out as he goes. This reminds me a little of the way Guston used to paint, all emotion and guts, laying bare what painting can do when you stop trying to be perfect. Ultimately, Rothko is asking us to feel, not just to see.