No. 1 (Royal Red and Blue)

This monumental color field painting exemplifies Rothko's mature style: large, soft-edged rectangles of luminous color hovering on the canvas. The deep royal red and blue create an immersive, almost spiritual experience. Rothko insisted his paintings be viewed up close, so the viewer would feel enveloped by color. He rejected the label "abstract," saying his works were about "basic human emotions—tragedy, ecstasy, doom."

Exhibition Venue

National Gallery of Art

Washington, D.C., United States