The life and works of Mark Rothko were shaped by various influences, including his Russian-Jewish heritage and the trauma of World War II. Rothko's artistic philosophy emphasized profound human emotion over mere representation, which was influenced by existentialist thought and his own search for meaning. His experiences as an immigrant and his exposure to modernism led him to develop a style characterized by large fields of color and an emphasis on the viewer's emotional response. Rothko's works explore themes of spirituality and transience, reflecting his deep engagement with the complexities of the human experience.