UNDERGROUND FANTASY

An early series of Rothko’s oeuvre were images of the New York City subway. Here elongated the figures standing on the platform. Rothko uses the wall structure and framing of the image to create a confined painting. The confined space and elongated figures enhances the dramatic perspective of painting.

DETAILS:

c. 1940
Oil On Canvas
34 3/8 x 46 9/16 in.
87.3 x 118.2 cm
National Gallery of Art
Gift of The Mark Rothko Foundation, Inc.
1986.43.130
© 1998 Kate Rothko Prizel & Christopher Rothko / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York