Untitled, c.1950By Mark Rothko

Russian born Mark Rothko (1903 – 1970) introduced Abstract Expressionism, a new form of Abstractionism, into the art world. Characterized by bright bands of horizontal colors painted on enormous canvases, Rothko’s style was intended to engulf viewers in the artwork. Ambiguously named so that viewers could form their own impressions, he utilized a spare palette with the darkest shades placed at the top to symbolize the mental depression which plagued him. Rothko’s masterful use of color powerfully conveyed an intimate, intense message without subject matter and adhered to his credo that a good painting must have a deep meaning rooted in concepts of mortality and spirituality.