Mark Rothko in his 69th Street studio, ca 1964. Photo Hans Namuth.
Artist

Mark Rothko – author of one of the most expensive paintings in the world

Mark Rothko.
Mark Rothko. “Self-portrait”

Mark Rothko is an American painter of the 20th century from a Russian family, who became famous as a painter of the color field. For almost 50 years of his creative activity, Mark Rothko painted pictures in different styles, but as a result of searching and under the influence of events that took place in the world during his lifetime, he created his own unique style. Today, Rothko is considered one of the most prominent representatives of abstract expressionism.

Entrance to Subway, Mark Rothko. 1938
Entrance to Subway, Mark Rothko. 1938

Biography of Mark Rothko

Marcus’ father, Jacob, was a pharmacist. As an educated man, he strove to give children the best possible education, while emphasizing economics and politics. It is believed that it was then that Mark’s complex relationship with the world of capital was formed, which the artist will have to face in the future.

Mark Rothko moved to the USA with his father in 1913. The decision to move was made by his father – he was afraid that his son would be taken into the tsarist army. A little later, Marcus’ mother and sister moved in. The family was reunited, but the unity did not last long – a few months later, Marcus’ father died of cancer. This event undoubtedly had an impact on the sensitive nature of the future artist, which was reflected in his paintings.

1947 Mark Rothko utd (recto) huile sur toile 135,9 X. 100,5 Collection Cristopher Rothko
1947 Mark Rothko utd (recto) huile sur toile 135,9 X. 100,5 Collection Cristopher Rothko

Studies

Studying at school was easy for Marcus – he was helped by the intellectual preparation that his father provided him. After graduating from school with honors, he received a grant to Yale University. Enrolling there in 1921, the future artist studied natural and exact sciences, philosophy, economics and sociology. A year later, the money received as part of the grant ran out – and with this, the student’s countless ordeals began.

Whomever Rothko worked – both as a waiter and a messenger, and all in order to raise funds to pay for his studies. This period, however, did not last long. In 1923 Markus dropped out of school. Visiting his friend at the Artists’ League of New York, Rothko found him creating a painting from nature. For Marcus, this was the impetus – this is how his formation as an artist began.

Section 4 (Seagram Mural)
Section 4 (Seagram Mural)

Creation

Young Rotkovich painted in different styles, first in a realistic spirit, a little later in the style of European surrealism. Many of his paintings were inspired by ancient myths.

In 1940, Markus Rotkovich, fearing the anti-Semitic sentiments that prevailed at that time, played it safe and changed his name to a shorter one – Mark Rothko. 1947 became a landmark in the fate of the artist – he found his own style. Rothko completely abandoned the depiction of the details of the surrounding life “as they are” and began to paint in the style of abstract expressionism.

1946 Mark Rothko Tentacles of Memory aquarelle et encre sur papier 55,3 X. 76,2 San Francisco, Museum of Modern Art
1946 Mark Rothko Tentacles of Memory aquarelle et encre sur papier 55,3 X. 76,2 San Francisco, Museum of Modern Art

In the 50s and 60s of the XX century, Mark Rothko decorated famous buildings – in particular, the building of Harvard University. In 1961, a personal exhibition of the artist was held, which was organized by the New York Museum of Modern Art. Rothko completely abandoned natural lighting in his studio, and since then, paintings with depressing shades have come out from under his brush – gray, purple, brown.

Omen ( recto) aquarelle, gouache et encres sur papier 99,4 X. 63,8 Collection Pietzsch
Omen ( recto) aquarelle, gouache et encres sur papier 99,4 X. 63,8 Collection Pietzsch
Personal life

Rothko married twice: firstly to jewelry designer Edith Sachar, and secondly to middle-class Protestant Mary Alice Beistle, who was 19 years his junior. From two marriages, the artist had two children – a daughter and a son.

The first works as a cardiologist, the second became a psychologist and wrote many books on his father’s work. Mark Rothko himself, alas, could not overcome the depression that had seized him. On February 25, 1970, his assistant, having come to the gloomy studio of the artist, found Rothko dead – Mark had cut his veins. The artist was buried at East Marion Cemetery in New York State.

Phalanx of the Mind huile sur toile 137,9 X. 90,8 Washington, National Gallery of Art
Phalanx of the Mind huile sur toile 137,9 X. 90,8 Washington, National Gallery of Art
1944 Mark Rothko td craie aquarelle, crayon et encre sur papier 66 X. 99,1 Collection Richard S. Fuld Jr
1944 Mark Rothko td craie aquarelle, crayon et encre sur papier 66 X. 99,1 Collection Richard S. Fuld Jr
1944 Mark Rothko Hierarchical Birds huile sur toile 100,7 X. 80,5 Washington, National Gallery of Art
Hierarchical Birds huile sur toile 100,7 X. 80,5 Washington, National Gallery of Art
1944 Mark Rothko Gethsemane huile et fusain sur toile 138,1 X. 90,2 Collection Kate Rothko
1944 Mark Rothko Gethsemane huile et fusain sur toile 138,1 X. 90,2 Collection Kate Rothko
1941-1942 Mark Rothko Untitled huile et crayon sur toile 61 X. 81 national galerie of Art
Untitled huile et crayon sur toile 61 X. 81 national galerie of Art
1941-1942 Mark Rothko Untitled huile sur toile 91 X. 60,6 Washington, National Gallery of Art
1941-1942 Mark Rothko Untitled huile sur toile 91 X. 60,6 Washington, National Gallery of Art
1941-1942 Mark Rothko Untitled huile sur toile 76 X. 91,3 Washington, National Gallery of Art
1941-1942 Mark Rothko Untitled huile sur toile 76 X. 91,3 Washington, National Gallery of Art
1938 Mark Rothko Untitled huile sur toile 127 X. 94 collection Kate Rothko
Untitled huile sur toile 127 X. 94 collection Kate Rothko
A series of paintings depicting the New York subway, in particular the most famous of them
A series of paintings depicting the New York subway, in particular the most famous of them “Entrance to the subway” (1938)
1936 Mark Rothko Interior Huile sur Carton 60,6x46,4 Washington, National Gallery of Art
Interior Huile sur Carton 60,6×46,4 Washington, National Gallery of Art
Sacrifice of Iphigenia, 1942
Sacrifice of Iphigenia, 1942
Rothko Chapel
Rothko Chapel
Mark Rothko
Mark Rothko
Rothko Chapel The Broken Obelisk
Rothko Chapel The Broken Obelisk
Mark Rothko in his 69th Street studio, ca 1964. Photo Hans Namuth.
Mark Rothko in his 69th Street studio, ca 1964. Photo Hans Namuth.