Figures Standing Near a Door 

"Figures Standing Near a Door" is a watercolor painting by American artist Mark Rothko. It is an early work by Rothko, completed before he developed the color-field style for which he is best known. The painting depicts a group of figures standing near a doorway, with a suggestion of an outdoor scene behind them. The figures are depicted in a simplified, gestural style, with their forms defined by loose brushstrokes. Rothko was born in Russia, but he came to the United States as a teenager and became a leading figure in the Abstract Expressionist movement. His art explores themes of human emotion and spirituality.