Art Must Have Soul to Be Good

To me, a painting about nothing is, a bowl of apples; although well painted, I would find it very boring. Some would say Mark Rothko's paintings are about nothing, I disagree. Let's look at a quote from the man:

"It is a widely accepted notion among painters that it does not matter what one paints as long as it is well painted. This is the essence of academicism. There is no such thing as good painting about nothing."

-Mark Rothko

I have seen only one of his originals, hanging in the Nelson Atkins museum in Kansas City, but viewing it how can one say it is about nothing? There is an immediate sense of awe, of void, of etherealness, emptiness, of soul-stirring energy. When I view that painting by Rothko, I cannot help but be overcome with a sense of emotion I could only call Rothko.