Mark Rothko (1903-1970) was a vocal advocate of artistic freedom, and consequently, his work defies any clear interpretation or categorization. Although he is considered one of the leading figures of Abstract Expressionism, which originated in New York, Rothko rejected this label and instead spoke of " a completed experience between picture and viewer ."

After initially painting figuratively, Rothko developed his now iconic large-format paintings from shimmering, pulsating fields of color . The artist emphasized that he had not eliminated the human figure, but had merely replaced it with symbols and forms. The intense color fields would the complete tragedy of human condition contained. At the same time, he explicitly empowered the viewer to fully exploit the expressive potential of his work. "A picture lives through community; it expands and accelerates in the eyes of a sensitive viewer."

From his early works to his famous color fields: this volume illuminates the intellectual power and influence of Rothko's dramatic, intimate, and revolutionary art.