1960, Mark Rothko, Grays in Yellow -- National Gallery of Art (Washington)
From the museum label: Many of Rothko's paintings on paper from this period sold quickly to private collectors and are seldom seen publicly. This work, however, was exhibited twice before it was sold by Rothko's dealer, Sidney Janis: once at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute in Utica, New York, and again at Janis's gallery in New York City. In both instances, as now, the painting was called Grays in Yellow, a title assigned by Janis rather than the artist. Rothko abandoned descriptive titles around 1947, preferring that viewers encounter his works without any guidance or distraction.
Link to other paintings from the exhibition Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper.
1960, Mark Rothko, Grays in Yellow -- National Gallery of Art (Washington)
From the museum label: Many of Rothko's paintings on paper from this period sold quickly to private collectors and are seldom seen publicly. This work, however, was exhibited twice before it was sold by Rothko's dealer, Sidney Janis: once at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute in Utica, New York, and again at Janis's gallery in New York City. In both instances, as now, the painting was called Grays in Yellow, a title assigned by Janis rather than the artist. Rothko abandoned descriptive titles around 1947, preferring that viewers encounter his works without any guidance or distraction.
Link to other paintings from the exhibition Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper.