The artwork titled “No. 16,” created by Mark Rothko in 1957, is an abstract oil painting that belongs to the Color Field Painting movement. It measures 265.5 x 293 cm and is housed at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, Canada.
The artwork presents a dynamic interplay of bold, rectangular forms, dominated by a vivid red hue that borders and frames a stark white central section. The red color, both intense and deep, contrasts sharply with the expansive white area, creating a sense of depth and emotional intensity. The paint’s textured application and the softly blurred edges between the color fields evoke a feeling of transcendence and contemplation. Rothko’s characteristic use of large, unbroken fields of color invites viewers to experience the painting’s emotional resonance directly.
