Mark Rothko
By: Anna Darden
Date & Place of Birth
He was born in Dvinsk (name changed to Daugavplis in 1920), Russia on September 25, 1903
Childhood
He was highly educated and was able to speak Russian, Yiddish and Hebrew. In 1913, Mark left Russia for Portland, Oregon, for his father feared the drafting of his brothers in the Russian Army.
Family Information
Parents: Jacob Rothkowitz & Anna Goldin Rothkowitz
Siblings: Sonia, Moise, & Albert
Wives: Edith Sachar & Mary Alice Beistle
Children: Christopher & Kate
Education
Rothko attended Portland's Lincoln High School in 1921 and attended Yale, studying liberal arts and the sciences. He left in 1923, without graduating.
Art Education
In 1925, Mark Rothko moved to New York City, where he studied at the Art Students League, under Max Weber.
How He Got Started
Rothko participated in his 1st group exhibition at the Opportunity Galleries, New York, in 1928. His first solo show took place at the Portland Museum of Art in 1933. In 1935, he was a founding member of the Ten, a group of artists sympathetic to abstraction & expressionism.
What Type of Art Did He Create?
Rothko primarily created colorfeild paintings, and also some work with mythology.
What transitions did he go through?
In the 40's, Mark painted mythology pieces. Soon after, he realized that mythology was outdated and wasn't a good way to express yourself. Rothko started colorfeild paintings. He used warm, bright colors for most of his life. When he started to get older & depression started taking over, he used darker colors (mainly brown, black and maroon).
Mythology
This painting is when Rothko first started out, and painted mythology.
Colorfeild Paintings (Early)
This was the most part of Rothko's paintings, large, colorful & bright.
Colorfeild Paintings (Late)
This painting is from the last part of Rothko's life, when he painted in dark colors.
What was happening in the world during his lifetime?
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Great Depression (1929-early 40's)
- Women granted the right to vote (1920's)
Date & Place of Death
He was diagnosed with heart disease in 1968 & suffered from major depression. Rothko committed suicide in his New York City Studio on Feburary 25, 1970