No Number/ Black/ No 1, 1969

Shoutout to @dailyrothko for bringing this darkest of all Rothkos to light.

Ink on paper, 42 x 50 inches, not titled, dated, or signed, but from 1969, referred to as 1969, and annotated on the back, “no number/ black/ no. 1” in two different corners. In the National Gallery’s collection since the Rothko kids’ gift in 1986, but I’m not sure it’s been shown. I, for one, would love to see it.

1969, 1969 [nga]