Mark Rothko je bio američki umetnik koji je poznat po svojim velikim bojnim poljima – monumentalnim slikama koje su osvojile gledaoce intenzivnom emocionalnom snagom. Najvažnije njegove slike uključuju "No. 10 (1950)", Seagram Murale i Rothko Chapel, koje su revolucionisale umetnost druge polovine veka i ostavio nezaboravno mesto u istoriji moderne umetnosti.
The painting Man Smoking features a central scene of a woman cradling an infant in her arms. The figures are rendered with a greenish hue, contributing to an otherworldly appearance. Within the composition, the woman's arms are wrapped around the baby, creating a sense of warmth and protection.
The background contains two other indistinct figures situated in soft shadows. The color palette is composed of earthy tones, including deep reds, somber browns, muted greens, and aged yellows. Through the technique of layering thin, translucent washes, the edges of the forms appear blurred, and the light seems to emanate from within the canvas.