Mark Rothko

by Oliver Wick (Editor), Katy Spurrell (Contributor)

Recently breaking the record price for post-war art at a Sotheby’s auction, Rothko’s White Centre (Yellow, Pink and Lavender on Rose) is indicative of this artist’s tremendous and enduring legacy as a master of color. This beautifully produced, oversized monograph presents roughly 100 works (70 paintings in full-color plates and 28 drawings) from private and public collections, tracking the evolution of his signature style. The monograph begins with Rothko’s early work, focusing specifically on the delicate hues and subtle textures of his relatively small paintings on gesso board. It continues with an exploration of the stratified and chalky color that appear in his surrealist works that signal his increasing pull toward abstractionism and ends with a survey of his mature works, where all of these techniques culminate into the gradated colors in rectangular forms that would become hallmarks of his style. The portion addressing his late works is divided into three sections: a group of paintings from the early 1950s; ten paintings that were shown at the 1958 Venice Biennale; and the nucleus of the former Panza Collection. The Blackform paintings from the 1960s and the ultimate Black on Greys conclude the monograph, providing glimpses of an even more austere art at its inception, and creative horizons the artist would die before realizing. A fine selection of works on paper is also included to outline specific aspects of each period of Rothko’s artistic career.The book also includes a tribute by Michelangelo Antonioni, an interview by Gillo Dorfles, a preface by Christopher Rothko, five essays by international specialists, a chronology, and a complete bibliography.

Genres: Art

244 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

After seeing the Rothko exhibit at the Smithsonian I had to see more of his work and learn more about his artistry and life. This book fit the bill.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

A behemoth of a book from Rothko's retrospective in Rome at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in 2007. There is an Italian perspective to this catalogue, and mentions his meeting and correspondence with Michelangelo Antonioni.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chronological arrangement of paintings, drawings, and studies present a solid overview of the progression of the artist's thought and work.