Abstract Composition in Blue, Black, Red, and Yellow [verso] c. 1944

This is an undated abstract composition in watercolor, ink and graphite by Mark Rothko. A hazy atmospheric effect in the upper half of the composition is produced through diluted hues of blue, pink and grey, while more vivid colors like red and yellow add depth and complexity to the lower foreground. Rothko’s dynamic interplay of shapes—round forms juxtaposed against rectangular elements—destabilizes conventional notions of spatial hierarchy. We are left with something that resists fixed meaning. The fluid brushstrokes of the watercolor create a sense of movement, contrasting with the sharp, linear precision of the ink and graphite which overlays and intersects different colored planes, creating visual tension. This tension destabilizes established meanings, and invites ongoing interpretation. The superimposition of lines and colors, function not just aesthetically but engage with the viewer in a field of infinite possible sensations.