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.

NO.6 (VIOLET,GREEN AND RED)

ABOUT THIS PAINTING:

No. 6 (Violet, Green, Red) is part of Rothko's signature style, where he created large, rectangular blocks of color that seem to float on the canvas. In this painting, you see rich hues of violet, green, and red. These colors are not just about aesthetics—they're intended to provoke a deeper emotional response.

Rothko's approach was rooted in the belief that color has the power to speak to our subconscious mind. The way the colors interact in this painting isn't just about their visual appeal, but the emotional tension and harmony they create. The boundaries between the colors are soft, almost blending into one another, which gives the painting a sense of depth, as if you're peering into an emotional landscape.

The colors themselves are key to how the painting communicates feeling. The violet and green have a cool, calm quality, while the red can be seen as intense or even unsettling. This contrast could suggest a kind of emotional conflict or a feeling of tension, as if the viewer is caught between tranquility and something more turbulent.

Rothko wanted his paintings to be immersive, often saying that the viewer should be "absorbed" into the work, feeling its emotional resonance. In a way, the simplicity of the composition and the use of color makes it universal—it doesn't demand a specific interpretation but invites each viewer to connect with it personally.

The following are his famous paintings.