NO.6 (Violet, Green, Red):

No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red) is a painting by the Russian-American abstract expressionist artist Mark Rothko. It was painted in 1951. In common with Rothko's other works from this period, No. 6 consists of large expanses of color delineated by uneven, hazy shades. In 2014, it became one of the most expensive paintings sold at auction.

Mark Rothko was a Russian born American painter and a pioneer of abstract expressionism. Rothko’s style is characterized by the use of large canvases and horizontal bands of bright colours. Violet Green Red is ambiguously named to allow viewers to form their own impressions. Here, Rothko uses a spartan palette with the darkest shades at the top, symbolizing the depression that plagued him.

The use of vibrant colours in a simple pattern illustrates Rothko’s signature style of conveying an intimate message without the use of subjects. This piece was bought for USD 186 million by the Russian businessman Dmitry Rybolovlev from the Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier in the year 2014. While the purchase has subsequently got embroiled in legal disputes, this piece still remains one of the expensive pieces of art in the world. The following are his famous paintings.