Eight Special Abstract Expressionism Paintings

3.Orange, Red, Yellow

The rectangles in the painting don't reach the edges of the canvas, making them appear to hover. The colors also seem to affect each other, creating an afterimage. Rothko didn't want the colors to be the only thing appreciated about his paintings.

4. No. 2 (No. 7 and No. 2)

Rothko's color is applied in thin washes, often composed of both oil and egg-based media, achieving a new luminosity. The artist's technique appears simple, but is richly varied in its range of effects. Paint can be seen running upward across the surface; this is because Rothko often inverted a picture while working on it, sometimes changing the final orientation at a late stage.

Abstract Expressionism is more concerned with the process of painting than the final result. The image is always unfinished, as if it extends beyond the canvas. Perhaps this is why the paintings seem somewhat uncertain, but that is also part of the charm of Abstract Expressionism.