I — Dark Over Light Earth

Rothko famously rejected being labeled an "abstractionist," insisting his work was about human tragedy and the sublime.

: A large upper passage of "dusky," dark hues contrasts with a smaller, dappled white area below. Dark Over Light Earth I

: Active borders of dark red corral the central shapes, creating a tension between the fields of color. : Despite their "grandiose" size, Rothko painted these

: Despite their "grandiose" size, Rothko painted these large works to be very "human and intimate". He believed that when a viewer stands close to a large picture, they are "in it" rather than simply commanding it from the outside. : He believed that if you were moved

For more detailed technical analysis or to see where his works are currently exhibited, you can check the archives of Christie's or WikiArt .

: He believed that if you were moved to tears, it was because you were communicating with the universal human emotions he poured into the paint.