Dark Over Light Earth I -

: Rothko recommended standing as close as 18 inches away—the same distance at which he painted them—so the colors could physically and mentally envelop you.

: A large upper passage of "dusky," dark hues contrasts with a smaller, dappled white area below.

: Rothko used feathered edges and thin, overlapping glazes of pigment to achieve a sense of luminosity that seems to emanate from within the canvas rather than being reflected off it. Emotional and Spiritual Intent Dark Over Light Earth I

No. 9 (Dark Over Light Earth/Violet and Yellow in Rose) [Mark Rothko]

: Active borders of dark red corral the central shapes, creating a tension between the fields of color. : Rothko recommended standing as close as 18

: Despite their "grandiose" size, Rothko painted these large works to be very "human and intimate". He believed that when a viewer stands close to a large picture, they are "in it" rather than simply commanding it from the outside.

: He believed that if you were moved to tears, it was because you were communicating with the universal human emotions he poured into the paint. Emotional and Spiritual Intent No

: He aimed for an almost religious experience for the viewer, seeking to eliminate all "obstacles" (like recognizable figures or symbols) between the painter’s idea and the observer. How to View It To experience the work as the artist intended: