Mark Rothko

(Rothkowitz)

By: Katelyn Papierski

Art 305: Art Disciplines Through New
Technologies

Early Childhood:
Born September 25, 1903
Born in Latvia (Russia), but known as
an American artist
Was the 4th child born into his family
Came to the U.S. at age 10
Grew up in Portland,
Oregon
Image from left to right:
Albert (father) and Sonia (mother)
Rothkowitz, An unnamed first
cousin, Marcus and Moise
(brothers)

Early Years:
1921 attended Yale
University for degree in
either engineering or
Law, later abandons both
for art career
Left Yale and moved to
New York City to Bum
out and starve a bit.
Studied at the Art
Students League under
Max Weber

Early Artwork:
Early paintings consisted of
social themes, with
expressionist and surrealist
overtones
Paintings were influenced by
Weber, Czezanne, Picasso,
and Manet

Abstract Expressionism:
Created many paintings
until he found his style
Was a leading figure in the
Abstract Expressionism
movement

The Ten:
In the mid 1930s he joined a group of
painters in New York called The Ten
Consisted of nine artists
Creatined modernist and abstract work
The Ten included:
Mark Rothko, Adolph Gottlieb, Louis Harris, BenZion Joseph Solman,
Jack Kufeld,
Louis
Schanker,
(Not Pictured)

Nahum Tschabasov,

Iiya Botowsky

Known For:

His paintings would have a glow

Blocks of color
Poetic expression of the spiritual
Free form ideas
Color setting one another off, but also keeps the
eye moving
Experience of the sublime when viewing
Soaked paint into canvas and used thin layers of
paint
Changed what American public knew as abstract
art
Paintings are said to make one weep when
viewing

The Irascibles:
January 1951
Abstract
Expressionist
artists
Featured on cover
of Life magazine
Wrote letter the
the Met explaining
they did not
approve the jury
selecting works of
art

Rothko Chapel

Designed by Phillip Johnson

Completed in 1971
Located in Huston, TX
Dark colors used, almost black
Paintings seen in a meditative state
Paintings changed as natural light
changed

The Final Years:

Diagnosed with heart trouble in 1968
and suffered from depression
Committed suicide in his studio
February 25, 1970
Survived by second wife Mary Alice
Beistle, and two children Kate and
Christopher

Bibliography:
www.biography.com/people/mark-roth
ko-9465194
www.markrothko.org/about-mark-rothk
o/
www.warholstars.org/abstractexpressio
nism/abstract/ten.html

Assessment:
1. What do you think of Rothkos art?
How does it differ from other art?
2. Why do you think his artwork is
important?
3. What do you think art would be like
today without his artwork or
abstract expressionism?