Preview AR preview Switch to Print Switch to Digital Image Send
Details Guide Add to favorites Download Similars X-Ray Diaporama Stats

No. 3

Explore Mark Rothko’s ‘No. 3’: A mesmerizing abstract expressionist painting featuring layered colors & evocative forms. Discover its melancholy beauty & dynamic composition.

Mark Rothko mastered Color Field painting with the Seagram Murals. Discover the emotional power of his iconic abstract works today.

The 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.

As a respectful and legal alternative, we offer custom, hand-painted artworks inspired by the original. Our skilled and professional artists carefully study the original's style, mood, and artistic essence to create a new, unique piece that evokes the same feeling - while remaining an original creation in its own right.

This method fully complies with copyright regulations because it does not involve copying or duplicating the protected artwork. Instead, it is a creative reinterpretation - a new painting that is influenced by the original but not identical to it.

Hand Made Oil Reproduction

Hand-painted oil on canvas in your size and frame, made to order by our artists. ( Switch to Print Switch to Digital Image)

Corner sample of the P118B picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
P118B $10
Corner sample of the P118H picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
P118H $10
Corner sample of the P118W picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
P118W $10
Corner sample of the P438Z picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 5.5 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
P438Z $10
Corner sample of the P508JH picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 7 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
P508JH $12
Corner sample of the P508YH picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 7 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
P508YH $12
Corner sample of the P805H picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 5 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
P805H $10
Corner sample of the P805Z picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 5 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
P805Z $10
Corner sample of the P919BZ picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 7 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
P919BZ $10
Corner sample of the P919G picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 7 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
P919G $10
Corner sample of the P919XJ picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 7 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
P919XJ $10
Corner sample of the P959ZH picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
P959ZH $10
Corner sample of the P968JZ picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 6 cm wide and 4 cm thick
P968JZ $12
Corner sample of the W106C picture frame: solid wood, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
W106C $8
Corner sample of the W218G picture frame: solid wood, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
W218G $10
Corner sample of the W218JH picture frame: solid wood, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
W218JH $8
Corner sample of the W218Y picture frame: solid wood, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
W218Y $10
Corner sample of the W307PJ picture frame: solid wood, 6 cm wide and 3 cm thick
W307PJ $10
Corner sample of the W316G picture frame: solid wood, 6 cm wide and 3 cm thick
W316G $10
Corner sample of the W316PJ picture frame: solid wood, 6 cm wide and 3 cm thick
W316PJ $8
Corner sample of the W316Y picture frame: solid wood, 6 cm wide and 3 cm thick
W316Y $10
Corner sample of the W398PJ picture frame: solid wood, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
W398PJ $8
Corner sample of the W4111J picture frame: solid wood, 6.5 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
W4111J $10
Corner sample of the W500HY picture frame: solid wood, 7 cm wide and 5 cm thick
W500HY $15
Corner sample of the W500JH picture frame: solid wood, 7 cm wide and 5 cm thick
W500JH $15
Corner sample of the W692G picture frame: solid wood, 8 cm wide and 4 cm thick
W692G $12
Corner sample of the W849H picture frame: solid wood, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
W849H $8
Corner sample of the W940BG picture frame: solid wood, 7.5 cm wide and 4.5 cm thick
W940BG $15
Corner sample of the W953PJ picture frame: solid wood, 6 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
W953PJ $8

Standard
custom
CM
INCH

Pick from our preset sizes that match the artwork's original proportions.

width
height

Type the width and the height you need, to fit your frame or your wall. This is hand-painted, so for a size with a different shape the artist can paint a bit more around the picture, or cut a bit — you choose. We send you a digital mockup to approve before the painting starts. The picture shown on this page does not show the real result — only the mockup does.

Examples of what can be changed: Replace face with customer photo; Add pet (e.g., replace cat with dog); Include hidden message in background; Change background landscape or elements.
After order, WahooArt.com team will email client for instructions and provide a mockup preview

Worldwide Delivery () in 3/4 weeks instead of standard 5 weeks. (21 October). No compromise on quality.

Free Worldwide Express Shipping
High-Quality Linen Canvas
Full Shipping Insurance
Customs Tax Refund Guarantee
True Color Matching Guarantee
100-Day Return Policy (Defects Only)
100% Money-Back Guarantee
Bulk Discount Offer

Total Price

$ 272

No. 3

Reproduction Medium

Reproduction Size

-

Total Price

$ 272

Quick Facts

  • Subject or theme: Melancholy, introspection
  • Influences:
    • Expressionism
    • Surrealism
  • Year: 1949
  • Title: No. 3
  • Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Art Quiz

There is only one correct answer for each question.

Question 1:
What is the primary style of Mark Rothko’s ‘No. 3’?
Question 2:
The painting 'No. 3' primarily utilizes which of the following techniques?
Question 3:
Rothko’s ‘No. 3’ is often associated with which movement?
Question 4:
The painting evokes a sense of what emotional state?
Question 5:
What is the significance of the rectangular forms in Rothko’s ‘No. 3’?

The Weight of Silence: An Exploration of Mark Rothko's ‘No. 3’

Mark Rothko’s “No. 3” isn’t a painting that shouts; it whispers. It’s an invitation to quiet contemplation, a deliberate rejection of representational art in favor of pure emotional expression. Created during the heart of his mature style – roughly between 1949 and 1970 – this work embodies the core tenets of Abstract Expressionism while simultaneously forging its own unique path. The piece immediately draws the viewer into a space of profound introspection, utilizing a muted color palette dominated by deep blues, blacks, and greens layered over an orange foundation. It’s not simply a collection of colors; it's a carefully orchestrated symphony of tones designed to evoke a specific mood – one of melancholy, solitude, and perhaps even a touch of existential longing.

Mark Rothko No. 3

Deconstructing the Layers: Technique and Composition

The power of “No. 3” lies not in its subject matter – which is deliberately ambiguous, hinting at figures or forms rather than explicitly depicting them – but in the meticulous execution of Rothko’s technique. Thick, layered brushstrokes are visible throughout the canvas, creating a tactile surface that invites close examination. These aren't sharp lines or defined edges; instead, they bleed into one another, blurring the boundaries between shapes and colors. This layering is crucial to the painting’s depth – it creates an illusion of space, drawing the eye inward and encouraging the viewer to lose themselves within the composition. Rothko famously described his paintings as “doors” or “windows,” suggesting a portal into another realm. Here, those doors are open, offering glimpses of something beyond the purely visual.

The deliberate lack of perspective is equally significant. Rothko abandoned traditional notions of linear space, opting instead for an implied sense of depth through color and layering. The overlapping forms create a dynamic interplay of positive and negative space, guiding the viewer’s eye across the canvas in a continuous, almost meditative, flow. It's a technique that mirrors the artist’s own exploration of spirituality and the search for meaning beyond the material world.

Roots of Emotion: Rothko’s Biography and Context

Understanding Mark Rothko requires acknowledging his deeply personal journey. Born in 1903 in Daugavpils, Latvia (then part of the Russian Empire), he experienced a childhood marked by displacement and uncertainty – a legacy of shifting borders, pogroms, and the trauma of immigration to Portland, Oregon, where his father, a pharmacist and intellectual, tragically died shortly after their arrival. This early exposure to loss and instability profoundly shaped Rothko’s artistic vision. He grappled with themes of mortality, faith, and the human condition throughout his career, seeking to express universal emotions through abstract forms. His work during this period reflects a deep engagement with existential questions – questions about life, death, and the search for meaning in an often-chaotic world.

The Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas, serves as a poignant example of how the artist envisioned his paintings interacting with space. The fourteen Rothko panels within the chapel’s walls are designed to create a contemplative atmosphere, inviting viewers to engage in silent reflection. “No. 3” shares this spirit of quiet intensity, offering a visual meditation on the complexities of human experience.

A Legacy of Color: Symbolism and Interpretation

While Rothko resisted definitive interpretations of his work, certain symbolic readings have emerged over time. The dominant blues and blacks are often associated with sadness, mourning, or introspection – reflecting the artist’s own personal struggles. The orange hue, appearing as a subtle undercurrent, can be seen as representing hope, warmth, or even spiritual illumination. The ambiguity of the forms themselves allows for individual interpretation, inviting each viewer to project their own emotions and experiences onto the canvas. “No. 3” is not simply a painting; it’s an emotional landscape – a space where the viewer becomes an active participant in the creation of meaning.

Questions & Answers

How well known is "No. 3" by Mark Rothko?

The popularity level recorded for "No. 3" by Mark Rothko is recognized.

What is the recommended use of a print of "No. 3"?

The recommended use of a print of "No. 3" is reflective.

What use and space are recommended for "No. 3" by Mark Rothko?

Use (reflective) and space (living room) are the two recommendations recorded for "No. 3" by Mark Rothko.


Artist Biography

A Life Shaped by Displacement

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.

From Figures to Fields of Color

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.

The Search for Emotional Truth

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:

  • The Seagram Murals, which he originally intended for a New York restaurant but later donated to the Tate Gallery after feeling the setting would compromise the work.
  • The Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas, a non-denominational space containing fourteen of his paintings in varying shades of black, designed as a place for quiet reflection.
  • The Harvard Mural series, which were donated to a dining room at the Holyoke Center.

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.

Mark Rothko

Mark Rothko

1903 - 1970 , Latvia

Quick Facts

  • Artistic Movement Or Style: Abstract Expressionism, Color Field Painting
  • Artists Or Movements Influenced By This Artist: ['Minimalist art']
  • Full Name: Markus Yakovlevich Rothkowitz
  • Nationality: American
  • Notable Artworks:
    • No. 10
    • Seagram Murals
    • Untitled
  • Place Of Birth: Daugavpils, Latvia
  • Date Of Birth: 1903
  • Date Of Death: 1970
Explore artworks organized by themes, styles, and characteristics.