Yellow, Blue, and Orange is an oil on canvas inspired by the painting with the same title by Mark Rothko. Today one of the most famous painters of all time, Rothko had a varied career and many associations beyond the Abstract Expressionist group. A Jewish immigrant, Yale drop-out, and public service worker, Rothko created one of the most unique oeuvres among his colleagues. Even though the painter’s work is usually thought of as a prime example of abstract painting, Rothko sought an almost religious experience with his art. Yellow, Blue, and Orange is a painting from one of the most hailed periods of the artist, the 1950s.

Rothko was born in a part of the Russian Empire, named Markus Rothkowitz. At that period in Europe, it became common to engage in hate speech and acts towards Jewish people. Perceiving the changes in Europe’s political climate, Rothko’s father decided to move to the US. Unfortunately, he died shortly after arriving there, forcing the whole family to work to make ends meet. But Rothko, since his childhood, had a solid education. He was versed in theology and spoke Russian and Hebrew. Seven years after arriving in the country, he made the news along with two other immigrants for gaining a scholarship to study at Yale. Even though he was a dedicated student, he never liked Yale’s environment, probably feeling some animosity towards him since the US, at that time, also had environments with prejudiced views on Jews. Rothko went to New York, and there he became enchanted by the artistic practices and started to paint.

Rothko had classes with Arshile Gorky, a fundamental figure for Abstract Expressionism, and Max Weber, a Cubist painter. Rothko’s early work is already unique in itself, even if the influence of his masters can be felt. The painter dedicated himself to urban scenery but did those motifs in a very stylized and almost abstract way. He then, through Gorky, met Milton Avery, Adolph Gottlieb, and Barnett Newman. The group, which all had varied interests in painting, advocated against the normative regime and conservative position that many art spaces held at the time. They protested for a municipal gallery, which was granted through the government, and soon enough were capable of organizing exhibitions. The painters formed a group called The Ten, an early manifestation of experimental art in the US.

Yellow, Blue, and Orange is an oil on canvas created in a rectangular shape, a trademark of Rothko’s most famous works. The picture makes a complex interaction of color harmony and layers. The background layer was done with an intense orange, which creates a warm field in the whole canvas. There is a yellow square in the bigger portion and upper part, done with subtle color variation, another distinctive mark of Rothko’s work. Right below it, painted in a gestural way, is a blue square, creating a strong contrast to the other two colors.