Untitled 1946

This untitled work was made by Mark Rothko at an unknown date, using what appears to be mixed media on canvas. The way Rothko approaches this piece, with its layered washes and scumbled marks, feels like a journey. I’m reminded that art-making is as much about the process as the final image. It's a conversation between the artist and the materials. Look closely at the way the brown paint is thinned out to reveal a textured canvas beneath. Then there’s a dark mark at the top like an eye. It anchors the whole composition, even as it seems to float. This interplay between grounding and levitation creates a dynamic tension. Think of someone like Forrest Bess, another artist who found spiritual dimensions in abstraction. But where Bess felt obsessive, Rothko opens up a space of possibility. Ultimately, art isn't about answers but about posing questions, inviting us to linger in the ambiguity.