Untitled 1968

Here we see an undated, untitled painting by Mark Rothko. At first glance, we are met with a stark visual experience: a large, dark rectangle dominates the composition, hovering above a barely visible horizon line. Rothko, deeply influenced by existentialism, sought to represent profound emotional and spiritual states through abstract forms. Look closely and you'll see the subtle variations of colour and texture, that seem to vibrate and pulse. The dark hues, bordered by a thin, ethereal line, suggest a sense of depth, almost like a doorway to an infinite space. This destabilizes our perception, inviting introspection. Rothko’s work challenges the conventional idea of painting as a representational medium. Instead, it exists as an encounter, an invitation to contemplate the sublime through pure abstraction. The power of this painting lies not just in its aesthetic appeal but in its capacity to prompt us to question the nature of our existence.