In the 1940s, Mark Rothko's art underwent significant transformation, marking a pivotal decade in his career that led him toward the abstract expressionism for which he is best known. This era began with Rothko's exploration of mythological and symbolic imagery, deeply influenced by the anxieties of World War II and a growing dissatisfaction with representational forms as a means of expressing the human condition. He sought new subjects and idioms to convey the tragedy and depth of human emotions, leading him away from figures to more symbolic representations​ (National Gallery of Art)​. Rothko's early 1940s works, such as "The Omen of the Eagle" (1942), display a symbolic language that draws on classical literature and myth to express universal themes of tragedy and transcendence. These works reflect his belief that art must carry significant content—tragic and timeless subjects that speak to the spiritual and psychological depths of human experience. This period was characterized by a search for a new visual language that could express these profound themes, resulting in a series of paintings that incorporate biomorphic forms and surrealist techniques inspired by his contemporaries who had fled war-torn Europe for New York​ (National Gallery of Art)​. By the mid-to-late 1940s, Rothko began to move towards what would become his signature style: color field paintings characterized by soft, rectangular forms floating on a stained canvas. This transition is evident in works that employ a more abstract imagery, utilizing fluidity of medium to evoke visions of primeval life, and employing the surrealist technique of automatic writing to release the creative forces of the unconscious mind. This evolution is marked by a loosening up of his technique and a shift towards abstraction that would fully manifest in his classic color fields of the 1950s​ (National Gallery of Art)​. The "Figure to Field: Mark Rothko in the 1940s" exhibition, as reviewed by Tom L. Freudenheim in The Wall Street Journal, offered a comprehensive look at this critical phase of Rothko's development. The exhibition traced his journey from the suggestively figurative to purely abstract art, showcasing how Rothko, alongside abstract expressionists like Robert Motherwell, Clyfford Still, and Jackson Pollock, shared a pursuit towards total abstraction. This collective movement towards abstraction was a profound response to the era's existential queries and the search for new means of articulating the human condition beyond the literal and figurative​ (Denver Art Museum)​. Rothko's work in the 1940s serves as a bridge between his early influences and his mature abstract expressionist achievements. This decade was not just a period of transition but also a time of intense innovation, where Rothko laid the groundwork for the emotive landscapes of color that would define his legacy.