Sacrifice of iphigenia 1942

Mark Rothko made "Sacrifice of Iphigenia" with oil paint, and the way he’s worked it reminds us that painting is really a process. It's not just about making a picture; it's about how you get there. The surface has this incredible texture, almost like it's been built up in layers over time, which of course it has. Take the black triangle shape for instance. It looms over the scene, a jagged, imposing presence. I feel like you can almost see the history of the gestures, the layering and scraping, the artist figuring things out as he goes. It’s not just black, but full of tiny marks and adjustments. Looking at this, I'm reminded of Barnett Newman, another artist wrestling with these big themes, like life, death, and the whole damn thing. And you know, that’s what's so great about art, right? It's an ongoing conversation, nobody has all the answers, and there’s always room for more to be said.