Mark Rothko, Untitled [Blue, Green, and Brown],1952 (alternatively dated to 1951), Collection of Mrs. Paul Mellon,
Upperville, Virginia In these paintings, color and structure are inseparable: the forms
themselves consist of color alone, and their translucency
establishes a layered depth that complements and vastly enriches
the vertical architecture of the composition. Variations in saturation
and tone as well as hue evoke an elusive yet almost palpable realm
of shallow space. Color, structure, and space combine to create
a unique presence. In this respect, Rothko stated that the large
scale of these canvases was intended to contain or envelop the
viewer--not to be "grandiose," but "intimate and human."
