He was born on 25 September, 1903 in Dvinsk, Latvia (Belarusian SSR that time).
1903 - 1970
Mark Rothko
description
He was born on 25 September, 1903 in Dvinsk, Latvia.
The Artist died on 25 February, 1970 in New York City, the USA.
Mark Rothko was an outstanding figure of American Abstract Expressionism. Before developing his bright personal style and reaching the pinnacle of popularity, the artist went through a passion for a wide variety of avant-garde movements, from Impressionism to complete abstraction. In his early works, his fascination with mythology, religion, and psychological doctrines is noticeable, while his later paintings are large-scale canvases painted with several carefully selected colors.
The peculiarities of the artist’s perception of the world led to the fact that he became the creator of the special direction in the visual arts, “painting the color field”, which includes work with large color blocks and the complete absence of figurative objects. Rothko believed that it is possible to express the most complex feelings and thoughts with the help of simple structures. He consciously copied the children’s way of drawing, paying special attention to color, its intensity and emotional expressiveness. Despite his huge popularity, recognition and wealth, Mark Rothko was unhappy in his life and could not express himself in his art as much as he wished. Suffering from contradictions, he overused various psychostimulants and committed suicide in the heyday of his career.
Key ideas:
– The paintings by Rothko are a result of his impressions caused by books by Nietzsche and Greek mythology.
– In his early years, the author masterfully blended Expressionism and Surrealism in his paintings. Looking for new forms of art, Rothko created landscapes, still lifes, figure studies and portraits.
1903
1929
1933
1940
1970
The birth of the artist
Teaching
Started working at the Center Academy of the Brooklyn Jewish Center. He taught his students arts and sculpture. At the academy, he met Adolph Gottlieb, an artist, whose style had influence on the style of Mark Rothko.
Personal exhibitions
Rothko’s art was shown in one-person exhibitions at the Museum of Art in Portland and the Contemporary Arts Gallery in New York. During the 1930s, Rothko also exhibited with a group of modern artists who called themselves “The Ten,” and he worked on federally sponsored arts projects for the Works Progress Administration.
The own unique style
In the 1940s, Rothko’s artistic subjects and style began to change. Earlier, he had been painting scenes of urban life with a sense of isolation and mystery. After World War II, he turned to timeless themes of death and survival, and to concepts drawn from ancient myths and religions. Rather than depicting the everyday world, he began to paint “biomorphic” forms that suggested otherworldly plants and creatures. He was also influenced by the art and ideas of Surrealists, such as Max Ernst and Joan Miró.
The death
This amazing artist died on 25 February, 1970 in New York City, the USA.