Untitled c. 1944 - 1946

This untitled piece by Mark Rothko, made with watercolor, ink, and graphite, feels like a map of the subconscious. Rothko's process here is so evident; you can see the thinking as it happens, the layers building up like sediment in a dream. I'm drawn to the way the pale washes of color bleed into each other, creating these hazy, undefined forms. There’s this scribble, like a dark eye, tethered by a red line—it feels incredibly personal, like a direct link to the artist's inner world. The transparency of the watercolor lets the paper breathe, giving the whole piece a sense of lightness, even with its melancholic undertones. It reminds me a little of Forrest Bess, actually, another artist who wasn't afraid to dive deep into the murky waters of the self. Ultimately, this piece is about embracing the unknown, celebrating the beauty of imperfection, and letting the process lead the way.