Repro. Mark Rothko oil painting on canvas

Mark Rothko's signature format of simple compositions of soft-edged bands of color, which he arrived at after experimenting with realism and surrealism, has come to be regarded by many critics as a sublime abstract expression.

These "classic" paintings, an example of which is shown above, are luxuriant and often luminous. The best are marvelous immersions into saturation and Rothko intended his large oil paintings to be seen up close so that the viewer can be enveloped by their colorful aura.

Rothko is in the firmament of the New York School of Abstract Expressionists and it is now half a century since his mature, "signature" style evolved and his works hold up well. There is no denying the loveliness of many of them, although loveliness is not necessarily what Rothko pined for. Indeed, Rothko was a very ambitious artist who wanted to transcend mere painting and achieve the magic of poetry and music and he considered himself neither a colorist nor an abstract painter, both of which he most certainly was.