However , between the primitivist and playful urban scenes and aquarelles of the early period , and the late , transcendent fields of color , was a long period of transition , marked by two important events in Rothko 's life : the onset of World War II and his reading of Friedrich Nietzsche .
However , between the early period , and the later fields of color , was a long period of transition , marked by two important events in Rothko 's life : the onset of World War II and his reading of Friedrich Nietzsche .