Hierarchical Birds 1944

"Hierarchical Birds" is a 1944 painting by Mark Rothko. The artwork, currently housed in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, displays Rothko's early artistic style. It is characterized by biomorphic shapes, abstract figures, and a vibrant color palette that evokes a sense of mystery and surrealism. The painting is dominated by a central figure with what appears to be a bird-like body with large wings, but the artist employs a simplified, almost childlike style. This abstract approach to figurative representation is a hallmark of Rothko's early works, which would later evolve into his signature color-field paintings.