Color Test in Crimson, Black, and Umber 

Mark Rothko made this color test in crimson, black, and umber with oil on canvas. Rothko's journey as a Jewish immigrant from Russia profoundly shaped his artistic vision. His sensitivity to human suffering and his search for universal themes found expression in the abstract. This piece, with its graduation of dark into light, moves us through the experience of bearing witness to the depths of human experience, particularly in the years following the Second World War. It invites contemplation on the emotional weight of color, and how subtle shifts in tone can evoke profound feelings. Rothko sought to create art that resonated with the viewer on a deeply personal level, "Pictures must be miraculous," he said. This small painting represents the immensity of Rothko’s artistic intent: to provoke an encounter with the sublime through the simplest means.