The artwork titled “Ochre and Red on Red,” created by Mark Rothko in 1954, is an abstract painting rendered in oil on canvas. It is a prominent piece within the Color Field Painting movement and is currently housed in the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC, US. This genre of painting is characterized by large fields of color that aim to evoke an emotional response through vivid contrast and simplicity.
“Ochre and Red on Red” features a composition dominated by two primary rectangular areas of contrasting colors. The upper portion is filled with a deep ochre hue, while the lower section comprises a rich red color. Both sections are bordered and interconnected with subtle red tones that seem to diffusedly merge the distinct color fields, creating a visual dialogue between warmth and intensity. This treatment of color exemplifies Rothko’s signature style of employing large, solid areas of color to convey complex human emotions and existential themes through minimalistic yet profoundly evocative visual language.
