Their uneven edges contrast with the stark, sharp, straight lines of the canvas itself. Correspondingly, Rothko uses the canvas to its maximum space, extending the blue background all the way to the edges. The blue is neither bright nor dull; it is a calm blue like the one that just follows dusk or precedes dawn. Such a naturalistic blue matches the earthy red and green used for the rectangles. Furthermore, Rothko uses some shadow and nuance, creating slightly darker blue lines around the rectangles. The red rectangle floats above the green one. The green rectangle can be experienced as a giant field of grass, or as a forest scene from a distance. Like the blue field in the background, the green is not a solid block of color. There are nuances and shades within the green. Likewise, the red appears darker in some spots than in others, especially around the edges. Rothko's title, "Earth and Green" draws attention to the artist's...

Moreover, Rothko places the objects on the canvas unevenly rather than with mathematical precision. Rather than leave the viewer with a sense of unease, Rothko's object placement keeps the eye entertained and moving about the canvas as if the artist intended to paint an actual narrative.
A formal art history approach such as the one suggested by Gardner helps students better analyze and understand the work we encounter. While the questions seem limiting, they do outline the essential elements of each piece of art including issues like the artist's cultural and historical background and the context of the work itself. Placing a painting in cultural and historical perspective helps the student of art history understand it better.