Mark Rothkos Subway Scene :: Art Artisits

intent Rothkos Subway SceneSubway Scene (1938), by bell ringer Rothko, depicts the inside of a tubing station. At the front of the painting argon ii pillars, behind them is a stairway used by two faceless characters, decending into the underground. The staircase is surrounded by a cage-like grid. Behind the staircase are another two pillars next to a portal correspondent to the one around the staircase. On the left side of the gate is a wall where half a door is visible. Just behind the gate are two swing-doors and a carrel with a man inside. two men appear to be waiting in front of the booth. On the left and right sides of the booth is what seems to be a wall. There is similarly what could potentially be an advertisement, on the bottom left side of the wall. in a higher place the wall are strings of the letter N, which could maybe association for Northern. Left from the advertisment, is another flight of stairs, which could be leading stilt from the street. On the stair s is another person who is only half visible. The characters in the painting appear to have no faces, except for the man standing(a) in the booth, which is quite a symbolic portrayal of a subway station. There are constant floods of state coming in from the urban center streets, many who appear only for short periods of time, whereas, the man in the booth remains there for a long time, therefore his face becomes familiar. The people also appear to be wearing hats, this could suggest that it takes place during winter. The artist, Mark Rothko, uses various shades of special K, brown and grey to capture the bleak domain of an underground subway station. For example the sweeping grey floor and smother brownish walls. However, there is also use of striking colour, like the burgundy jacket and hat worn by the man decending the stairs and the bright green grid surrounding him. There also seems to be a word form constructed out of the two front pillars in the painting where all the fulfil takes place. It is also where the artificial light sources are coming from, like the booth, the staircase at the front of the painting and possibly some lights on the jacket crown which cannot be seen. Everything outside of the frame seems alot darker in contrast, isolated and not so clear.