The artwork titled “Yellow, Charcoal, Brown” by Mark Rothko, created in 1953, is an exemplar of the Color Field Painting movement. This abstract genre piece is housed in the Whitney Museum of American Art, located in New York City, NY, US.
The artwork is characterized by its stark yet harmonious use of color blocks. At the top, a large, luminous expanse of yellow occupies a significant portion of the canvas. Below this vibrant yellow field, there is a thin band of reddish-brown, subtly transitioning into a larger section of deep charcoal. At the very bottom, another narrow strip of brown appears, echoing the hues found above. The composition, though abstract, evokes a sense of depth and contemplation, typical of Rothko’s work, inviting viewers to engage with the emotional and atmospheric qualities elicited by color and form.
