Abstract Composition in Purple, Blue, Pink, Black, and Gray c. 1944

Mark Rothko made this abstract composition in purple, blue, pink, black, and gray with watercolor, gouache, and graphite on paper. The washes create a layered effect, like memories fading in and out. There's a real tenderness in Rothko's hand here, which gets obscured in some of the later more famous paintings. The physical qualities of the piece – the grain of the paper, the transparency of the washes, the smudging of the graphite – give it an intimate feel. Look at the circles that appear throughout, they're more like gestures than objects. See the way the colors pool and bleed, creating soft edges and blurred lines? It's like Rothko's inviting us to get lost in the process, to surrender to the fluidity of the medium. This piece reminds me of Arthur Dove, another artist who wasn't afraid to embrace the messy, imperfect nature of painting. Both artists knew that art is about so much more than just representation; it's about feeling, sensing, and connecting with the world in a more profound way.