A central figure in the development of postwar abstract painting in the United States, Mark Rothko (1903–1970) is best known for his luminous paintings of the 1950s and 1960s. These classic works are characterized by soft-edged rectangular forms and broad, thin washes of velvety color. Rothko worked on large canvases, but he resisted categorizing his paintings as “monumental.” Instead, he felt that the scale of his work was intimate, establishing a close physical relationship with the viewer. These extraordinary works from the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, invite contemplation, and their impact is often described in the vocabulary of the spiritual.
20 note cards and envelopes, 4 each of 5 images: Untitled, 1949; Untitled, 1953; Untitled, 1957; Untitled, 1962; Untitled, 1951.
