Oil On CanvasWallArtColor Field Painting
1961Modern
259.0 x 228.0 cmThe artwork displayed on this page is protected by copyright law, which means we cannot legally create or sell an identical reproduction. This protection is enforced under international agreements such as the Berne Convention and by national laws, including those outlined by the U.S. Copyright Law - Title 17.
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No. 1
Reproduction Size
“No. 1” exemplifies Mark Rothko’s signature style within the Color Field painting movement, a pivotal development in abstract expressionism. This vertical composition presents a layered arrangement of rectangular blocks—ash brown, ruby red, and deep eggplant purple—suspended against one another. The deliberate simplicity of form belies a profound exploration of color's emotional power. Rothko sought to move beyond representational art, aiming instead to evoke primal emotions and spiritual experiences through the direct interaction of color fields. Unlike action painting, which emphasized the artist’s gesture, Color Field painting prioritizes large areas of flat color, inviting contemplation and introspection.
Created in 1961, “No. 1” reflects a period of significant artistic experimentation following World War II. The anxieties and uncertainties of the era fueled a desire among artists to move beyond traditional forms of representation. Rothko’s work emerged as a response to this climate, offering viewers an immersive experience that transcended narrative or symbolic meaning. His intention was not to depict anything specific but rather to create an environment—a space for contemplation and emotional resonance. The Seagram Murals commission (later declined), intended for a high-end restaurant, highlights Rothko’s desire to remove his art from the realm of mere decoration and place it in a context that fostered genuine engagement.
Works similar to "No. 1" are listed on the artwork's Similars page.
"No. 1" by Mark Rothko displays a strong color unity color harmony.
The suggested use for "No. 1" by Mark Rothko is mood. It can serve other purposes as well.
Mark Rothko arrived in the United States as a young boy, part of a family moving from Dvinsk, Latvia, to Portland, Oregon, in 1913. His early years were marked by the heavy atmosphere of the Pale of Settlement, where his family lived amidst political unrest and the fear of pogroms. This sense of instability followed him across the ocean. The loss of his father, Jacob, shortly after their arrival in America added a layer of personal grief to the challenges of settling in a new culture. While he studied at Yale University, the pull of New York City eventually led him to leave formal academics behind for the Art Students League.
His upbringing was one of intellect and debate. His father, a pharmacist with socialist leanings, fostered a home where learning was central. This environment, combined with the hardships of the immigrant experience, created a deep sensitivity to human suffering. These early experiences of loss and the struggle to find a place in a chaotic world became the quiet foundation for everything he would later paint.
In his early years in New York, Rothko focused on realism, painting portraits and urban scenes with careful attention to detail. As the 1940s brought the horrors of World War II, his work began to shift. He moved away from recognizable objects, looking instead toward Surrealism and mythology to find a way to express universal human emotions. During this period, his canvases featured biomorphic shapes that seemed to float between being figures and being abstract forms.
By the late 1940s, he had developed the style that would define his career. He stripped away all imagery, leaving only large-scale canvases with rectangular blocks of color. These forms appeared to hover and resonate against one another. He used thin washes of paint to create subtle changes in tone and texture, making the edges of his shapes appear blurred. He often avoided titles, using simple numbers like No. 1 or No. 6 so that viewers could face the work without any preconceived ideas.
Rothko’s mature period is associated with Color Field painting. His goal was to use color to speak directly to the human soul, bypassing the intellect to reach deep emotions such as tragedy, ecstasy, and despair. He meticulously layered paint to create a sense of depth and light that seemed to come from within the canvas itself. These large works were intended to envelop the viewer in an immersive experience.
His commitment to this emotional honesty led to several significant projects:
Despite his immense influence on Abstract Expressionism and the later Minimalist movement, Rothko struggled with depression throughout his life. He died by suicide in 1970. His work remains a central part of modern art history, found in permanent collections such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Tate Modern in London.
1903 - 1970 , Latvia
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