Mark Rothko No. In No. 16 , Red, brown and black, 1958, Oil on canvas, 8’ 10 5/8" x 9’ 9 ¼. The artist's son, Christopher Rothko: He would often start with pen-and-ink sketches, working out proportions. abstract expressionism. 16 (Red, Brown, and Black) 1958 Not on view In 1943, Rothko, with his friend the painter Adolph Gottlieb, wrote several philosophical statements that would continue to guide his painting for years to come: "We favor the simple expression of the complex thought. The artist sought to awe viewers into silence and contemplation when standing before this work. And then he would paint a background color and probably paint several over that in a very thinned-out stain of paint so that these different colors that are layered one over the other will shine through. The artist's son, Christopher Rothko: He would often start with pen-and-ink sketches, working out proportions. color field. And then he would paint a background color and probably paint several over that in a very thinned-out stain of paint so that these different colors that are … Mark Rothko, No. We believe that the brilliant histories of art belong to everyone, no matter their background. Then he would paint rectangles over that. dailyrothko. 16 (Red, Brown, and Black), he creates a sense of atmospheric depth with shadowy, nocturnal hues of rich purples, maroons, and browns. 670 n photo on April 07, 2015 / mark rothko. We believe art has the power to transform lives and to build understanding across cultures.