Violet, Black, Orange, Yellow on White and Red (1949) by Mark Rothko

Violet, Black, Orange, Yellow on White and Red - Mark Rothko - 1949

Artwork Information

TitleViolet, Black, Orange, Yellow on White and Red
ArtistMark Rothko
Date1949
Art MovementColor Field Painting

About Violet, Black, Orange, Yellow on White and Red

The artwork “Violet, Black, Orange, Yellow on White and Red” by Mark Rothko dates back to 1949 and is a significant piece within the Color Field Painting movement, a genre of abstract art. This painting showcases Rothko’s renowned style, marked by a potent use of color to evoke a range of emotions and deep contemplation in the viewer.

The artwork exhibits large, soft-edged blocks of color that bleed into one another, creating a dynamic interplay of hues and forms. Dominating the canvas is a large, rectangular field of vibrant magenta, which rests on a horizontally elongated block of black. Below this stark contrast, a rich orange bar situates itself atop a broader, bright yellow base, which in turn is framed by the painting’s white and red borders. The overall effect is both striking and harmonious, engaging the viewer’s senses and inviting introspection. The boundaries between the color fields are not sharp, but rather softly diffuse, allowing for a seamless visual transition and an immersive experience. The juxtaposition of warm and cool colors, along with the spatial tension created by the horizontal and vertical fields, reflects Rothko’s interest in the emotional and expressive possibilities of color.

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