Dear journal,
Today, I had the incredible experience of seeing another one of Mark Rothko's works in person. Rothko, an artist known for his vibrant and contemplative color fields, created pieces that evoke deep emotional responses. The painting I saw, "Brown, Orange, Blue on Maroon" from 1963, perfectly captures Rothko's exploration of feeling and emotion.
Rothko's work is often described as abstract, but he himself rejected that label. He focused on expressing basic human emotions—tragedy, ecstasy, doom, and so on—through his use of color and form. In "Brown, Orange, Blue on Maroon," the hazy-edged shapes and the juxtaposition of colors seem to vibrate against one another, creating a mysterious and contemplative effect.
What I find most fascinating about Rothko's approach is his ability to communicate profound emotional experiences through seemingly simple compositions. The vibrant orange, set against the deeper brown and blue, draws you in, while the maroon background adds a sense of depth and melancholy. This interplay of colors and forms invites viewers to immerse themselves in the painting and reflect on their own feelings and experiences.
Rothko explained his motives as follows: "I’m not an abstract artist...I’m not interested in the relationship of color or form or anything else. I’m interested only in expressing basic human emotions—tragedy, ecstasy, doom and so on. And the fact that a lot of people break down and cry when confronted with my pictures shows that I communicate.... The people who weep before my pictures are having the same religious experience as I had when I painted them."
Seeing "Brown, Orange, Blue on Maroon" in person was a profound experience for me. It reaffirmed my admiration for Rothko and his unique ability to explore and communicate the depths of human emotion through his art. His work continues to inspire and move me, reminding me of the transformative power of art.
Awestruck,
Dave