The artwork, titled “No. 16 (Red, White, and Brown)”, was created by Mark Rothko in 1957. Executed in oil on canvas within the Color Field Painting movement, the abstract piece measures 252.5 x 207.3 centimeters. It is presently housed at the Kunstmuseum Basel in Basel, Switzerland.
The artwork, true to Rothko’s characteristic style, features a composition dominated by large, soft-edge rectangles that appear to float against a colored backdrop. The piece consists of three horizontally aligned rectangles, with the topmost being a deep brown, the central one in a vibrant red, and the lowermost appearing starkly white. The colors are layered and somewhat diffused at the edges, producing a luminescent and ethereal effect. The juxtaposition of red, white, and brown creates a stark contrast yet harmonizes to evoke a profound emotional response from the viewer, emphasizing Rothko’s intent to connect deeply on an emotional and spiritual level.
