No. 61 (Rust and Blue)

No. 61 (Rust and Blue) is a 1953 painting by the Russian-American Abstract expressionist artist Mark Rothko. The work was first exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, New York in 1961. In common with Rothko's other works from this period, No. 61 consists of large expanses of color delineated by uneven, hazy shades. The Rust and Blue painting was a part of the Color Field Movement because, No. 61 relies on subtle tonal values that are often variations of a monochromatic hue. Rust and Blue also uses layered coloring to enrich the hues in the painting, a quality the artist Mark Rothko described as inner light. Rothko painted in such a way that at times paint can be seen flowing upward across the surface. This illusion is caused because Rothko would invert his painting toward the final stages of his work, this can be seen in No.61.