No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red)

Mark Rothko painted this No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red) in 1951, an iconic example of Color Field painting. The large canvas measures roughly 90 by 54 inches, featuring three horizontal bands with soft, fuzzy boundaries. A narrow green stripe separates expanses of deep violet and warm red, the colors seeming to pulse and float against each other.

Rothko developed his technique by building up thin, translucent layers of pigment with quick brushstrokes. He guarded his exact process closely, never fully explaining how he achieved the luminous glow that makes his color fields appear to emanate light from within. He intended these large-scale works to be immersive experiences, evoking emotional responses similar to Greek tragedy or religious contemplation.

Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev purchased the painting in 2014 for approximately $186 million through dealer Yves Bouvier, a transaction that later sparked legal disputes when Rybolovlev discovered significant markup. In 2024, hedge fund manager Kenneth C. Griffin acquired it through a private Christie's sale for $195 million, making it one of the most valuable abstract artworks ever sold.