Abstract Composition in Blue, Gray, Green, Black, and Red c. 1944

"Abstract Composition in Blue, Gray, Green, Black, and Red" (c. 1944) by American abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko (1903-1970) exemplifies the artist's early exploration of color and form. The work features a bold blue shape against a muted, greyish background, with hints of green and red interspersed. Rothko's use of flat, geometric shapes and simplified forms suggests a shift away from representational art towards pure abstraction. The artist would later develop his signature "Color Field" style, where large blocks of color evoke emotional responses in the viewer.