The artwork, titled “No.5/No.22,” was created by the artist Mark Rothko between 1949 and 1950. This piece, rendered in oil on canvas, is a quintessential example of the Color Field Painting movement and belongs to the abstract genre. The painting measures 297 by 272 cm and is currently located in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, NY, US.
The artwork features a minimalist composition consisting of large, blurred-edged blocks of color stacked horizontally. Dominating the canvas is a broad expanse of warm yellow and orange hues. A deep, vivid red band, slightly narrower and horizontally oriented, sits in the middle of the canvas, subtly bisecting the vertical plane. This red band’s presence introduces a striking contrast while maintaining harmony within the composition’s limited color palette. The application of color appears soft and diffused around edges, indicative of Rothko’s technique to evoke emotional resonance through simplicity and underlying tension.
