Dark Over Light Earth I -

No.9 (Dark over Light Earth), 1954 - Mark Rothko - WikiArt.org

: He aimed for an almost religious experience for the viewer, seeking to eliminate all "obstacles" (like recognizable figures or symbols) between the painter’s idea and the observer. How to View It To experience the work as the artist intended: Dark Over Light Earth I

Rothko famously rejected being labeled an "abstractionist," insisting his work was about human tragedy and the sublime. * Style: Color Field Painting

Mark Rothko * Date: 1954. * Style: Color Field Painting. * Genre: abstract. www.wikiart.org : He believed that if you were moved

: Rothko recommended standing as close as 18 inches away—the same distance at which he painted them—so the colors could physically and mentally envelop you.

: He believed that if you were moved to tears, it was because you were communicating with the universal human emotions he poured into the paint.

: Active borders of dark red corral the central shapes, creating a tension between the fields of color.