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Object Image

No. 5/No. 22

The rectangles within this painting do not extend to the edges of the canvas and appear to hover just over its surface. Heightening this sensation is the effect of chromatic afterimage. Staring at each colored segment individually affects the perception of those adjacent to it. The red–orange center of the painting tints the yellow above it with just a bit of green. The yellow above seems to tint the orange with blue. Despite these color relationships, Rothko did not want his pictures appreciated solely for their spectral qualities. He said, "If you are only moved by color relationships, then you miss the point. I'm interested in expressing the big emotions—tragedy, ecstasy, doom."

Credit: Gift of the artist

1950 (dated on reverse 1949)
Oil on canvas
297.0 x 292.0cm
1108.1969
Image © 1998 Kate Rothko Prizel & Christopher Rothko / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York, 2019
Text © MoMA - Museum of Modern Art, New York, 2019

Where you'll find this

The Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art
Permanent collection