Untitled [recto] c. 1935

This Untitled portrait, painted in c. 1935 by Mark Rothko, is a departure from the artist's later, more famous abstract work. The painting depicts a man in a suit and tie, with a broad, flat application of color giving the impression of a rough, textured surface. Rothko used bold colors and gestural strokes to create a dynamic composition. While still developing his artistic style, this work shows Rothko's early interest in figuration and the human form.