Movement · 1943–1970

Abstract Expressionism & Color Field

After the war, New York painting goes big and abstract. Color field painters like Rothko stack soft-edged fields of color meant to be felt as much as seen.

Across 3 works, the colors are mostly orange (41%), brown (24%) and yellow (12%). On average the canvases are light, vivid and warm. Signature colors, used far more here than across the collection: light scarlet orange, light scarlet, dark violet, dark red and scarlet.

Color print

The swatches covering most of these canvases, averaged over every work, dark to light.

• MG 025 light scarlet orange 18.2% of canvas
• MG 023 light scarlet 7.9% of canvas
• MG 024 scarlet 6.2% of canvas
• MG 020 dark red 6.2% of canvas
• MG 033 light amber 5.9% of canvas
• MG 026 scarlet orange 4.3% of canvas
• MG 035 pale amber 4.2% of canvas
• MG 151 light reddish tan 4.1% of canvas
• MG 028 light scarlet orange 3.9% of canvas
• MG 144 dark crimson sienna 3.2% of canvas
• MG 032 light orange amber 2.7% of canvas
• MG 215 grey 2.6% of canvas
• MG 173 putty 2.5% of canvas
• MG 172 oatmeal 2.2% of canvas
• MG 029 light orange 2.0% of canvas
• MG 174 warm grey 1.9% of canvas

Measurements

Lightness

0.63

Contrast

0.23

Vividness

0.099

Warmth

+1.00

Complexity

65 cells

Hue range

0.35

Focus

0.08

Artists

• Mark Rothko 1903–1970

Works

• Number 19, 1949
• Untitled (Painting), 1953–1954
• Untitled (Purple, White, and Red), 1953