The emotional depth of Mark Rothko’s colour fields
Above: A photo showing Mark Rothko’s paintings from the opening dinner for the National Gallery of Art's first exhibition of modern art, held in 1973, Curated by Bunny Mellon. Sculptures on tables by Betty Parsons, Artworks by Mark Rothko. Far wall artwork Untitled (Yellow, Orange, Yellow, Light Orange), 1955
Mark Rothko, born in 1903, is one of the most renowned figures in 20th-century abstract art. Though often classified as an Abstract Expressionist, Rothko’s work defies simple categorisation. His signature style of large, vibrant colour fields became a powerful mode of expression, communicating profound emotional experiences through form, colour, and space. Rothko’s paintings are a journey into the depths of human emotion, and are some of the most impactful and memorable works I have ever seen in real life.
Early Life and Career
Mark Rothko’s family emigrated from Latvia to the United States when he was ten years old, settling in Portland, Oregon. He initially attended Yale University but left without completing his degree, drawn instead to New York City’s thriving art scene. In New York, Rothko studied briefly at the Art Students League and began associating with other emerging artists, including Arshile Gorky, Jackson Pollock, and Willem de Kooning.
During the 1930s and early 1940s, Rothko’s work was largely figurative, drawing inspiration from mythological subjects and surrealism. His early paintings often depicted urban scenes, interiors, and figures, with a style that combined realism and symbolism. However, by the late 1940s, Rothko began to move away from figuration and towards abstraction, a shift that would define the rest of his career.
The Shift to Abstraction
Rothko’s journey toward abstraction began in the 1940s when he started experimenting with simplified forms and colour. Influenced by Surrealism and the broader modernist movement, Rothko gradually eliminated recognisable figures from his paintings. His work became more focused on mood, space, and the relationships between shapes.
By the early 1950s, Rothko had developed the signature style for which he is most famous: large, rectangular fields of colour stacked one on top of the other. These colour fields are both simple and complex, using subtle variations in hue, transparency, and surface texture to evoke a sense of depth and emotional resonance. Rothko’s use of colour was not merely aesthetic; it was deeply symbolic and intended to evoke specific emotional responses from viewers.
Rothko’s Colour Fields: Emotion through Abstraction
Rothko’s paintings from the 1950s and 1960s are characterised by their meditative quality. His canvases—often monumental in scale—invite the viewer to experience colour in a way that transcends mere visual perception. Rothko believed that his paintings could elicit deep emotional reactions, and he was particularly interested in the spiritual and existential dimensions of art.
His use of colour was central to this exploration. Rothko once said, “I’m interested only in expressing basic human emotions—tragedy, ecstasy, doom, and so on.” His colour fields are often described as portals into these emotions, with each painting offering a different emotional register depending on the colours and forms used. The soft edges of the rectangular shapes and the way colours bleed into one another create a sense of movement and fluidity, drawing viewers into an almost immersive experience.
The paintings’ simplicity belies their emotional complexity. In Rothko’s later works, the colours darken, and the compositions become more somber, reflecting his own evolving emotional state and philosophical outlook on life. These later works, often described as meditative or even confrontational, invite viewers to confront their own emotions, mortality, and the unknown.
The Rothko Chapel
One of Rothko’s most important late commissions was the Rothko Chapel, completed in 1971 in Houston, Texas. The non-denominational chapel housed fourteen large, dark canvases, creating an intensely spiritual and contemplative atmosphere. Rothko was deeply invested in the idea that art could serve a transcendent, almost religious function, and the Rothko Chapel is the culmination of this vision. Unfortunately it is currently closed due to damage sustained during a recent hurricane, however it stood as a place where art, spirituality, and meditation converged.
Above: Inside the Rothko Chapel
In the years leading up to his death in 1970, Rothko’s works grew darker, both in tone and colour. His once-bright palettes gave way to deep blacks, reds, and purples, reflecting perhaps a more introspective and somber state of mind. This shift in Rothko’s palette has been the subject of much speculation, often linked to his declining health and bouts of depression. Nonetheless, these late works continue to convey the intensity and emotional depth that mark Rothko’s entire oeuvre.
Rothko’s Legacy
Mark Rothko’s contribution to the world of abstract art cannot be overstated. His emphasis on colour and form as vehicles for emotional and spiritual experience set him apart from his contemporaries. While he is often grouped with the Abstract Expressionists, Rothko’s work transcends labels, focusing instead on the universal and timeless aspects of human experience.
Today, Rothko’s works are housed in major museums around the world, and his paintings continue to evoke strong emotional responses from viewers. His art remains a testament to the power of simplicity in conveying complex emotions and ideas.
To see more of Mark Rothko’s work follow @dailyrothko on instagram
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This is second part in a new blog series covering the work of important artists around the world who influence my understanding of the world and the way I view it. You can read the first part covering Hilma af Klint here.