Mark Rothko continued to simplify the compositional elements of his paintings. In 1950, he began to divide the canvas into horizontal bands of color. Despite the frontal composition and absence of spatial illusionism in these works, the
broad bands of color appear simultaneously to float in front of the picture plane and to merge with the color field upon which they are place, as in Four Darks in Red. A luminosity results from the repeated layering of thin washes
of paint, which allows some underpainting to show through the upper coats. In each work of this period, Rothko sought only subtle variations in proportion and color, yet achieved within this limited format a broad range of emotions and
moods.
MOST POPULAR PAINTINGS
Hierarchical Birds
Orange Red Yellow
Hierarchical Birds
Black on Maroon
Number 16, 1961
Purple, White, and Red
Untitled, 1953
Gethsemane
Rust and Blue