top of page
Search

September the 25th - Mark Rothko - Artist Birthday

Writer: LaBelleEpoqLaBelleEpoq

Mark Rothko

American

 

Born: September 25, 1903

Daugavpils, Latvia

 

Died: February 25, 1970

New York, NY


Art Movement: Abstract Art, Abstract Expressionism

 

Born in 1903, Mark Rothko is an important figure in developing Post-war painting in the United States, also known as the New York School.


Rothko was an abstract expressionist painter born in Dvinsk, Russia (current Latvia). He emigrated to Portland, Oregon, with his family in 1913 due to the fear of being drafted into the Imperial Russian army. 


 

The Rothkowitz family before leaving Latvia, circa 1910. Markus Rothkowitz (Mark Rothko) is bottom left, holding the dog.  Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education
The Rothkowitz family before leaving Latvia, circa 1910. Markus Rothkowitz (Mark Rothko) is bottom left, holding the dog. Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education

In 1921, Mark Rothko obtained a scholarship to study at Yale University. Two years later, in 1923, Rothko moved to New York and began working in the N.Y. City garment district (a site known for fashion manufacturing and fashion design in the U.S.).


His original plan was to become an engineer or attorney, but he was so fascinated by the Art world that he decided to pursue an artistic career. Mark Rothko studied briefly at the Art Students League under the American Cubist artist Max Weber.


Milton Avery, Rothko with Pipe, 1936, National Gallery of Art, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Milton Avery, Rothko with Pipe, 1936, National Gallery of Art, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund

In 1925, Mark Rothko began studying at the Parsons School of Design, where he met Milton Avery under the teachings of Armenian painter Arshile Gorky, who heavily influenced his painting style.


Rothko's work evolved throughout his career, and he experimented with different colour combinations and compositions. His art is often associated with the Abstract Expressionist movement, which emerged in New York City in the 1940s and included artists like Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and Franz Kline.



Rothko's paintings are celebrated for their ability to convey complex emotional and spiritual experiences through colour and form. He believed his art could communicate universal truths and elicit deep emotional responses from viewers. His work is often seen as an exploration of the human condition, and he sought to create art that would engage viewers on a profound level. 


Hierarchical Birds Mark Rothko Date: 1944

Mark Rothko's way of thinking was heavily influenced by  "The Birth of Tragedy", a work by Friedrich Nietzsche, who stated that Greek mythology serves to prevent men from the terrors of ordinary mortal life. It also impacted his art, which aimed to fill the emptiness of modern men. "Without monsters and gods, art cannot enact a drama." 


Unfortunately, Mark Rothko struggled a lot with depression. He took his own life on February 25, 1970, at age 66, but he significantly impacted the world of Abstract Art.





 

Continue Reading and acquiring our books on AMZN: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09431HBF7


By acquiring our books, artworks, certified prints or any merchandising through our Amazon shop or website, you become a Genuine Art Patron, directly contributing to allowing our Artists to thrive and build a long-lasting legacy in the Art World.


 
 
 

コメント


Follow us on Instagram

La Belle Epoq Logo - Art Community and Contemporary Art Collection - Join the Movement!

LaBelle Époq

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

© 2025 All Rights Reserved

LA BELLE EPOQUE LLC

89102 Las Vegas, Nevada USA

6852 Maissin, Luxembourg Belgium

USA : +1-833-390-1690

BE : +32-78-70-01-20

Email : info@labelleepoq.com

Read our Blog

  • La Belle Epoq Tumblr
  • La Belle Epoq FB
  • Grey Twitter Icon
  • La Belle Epoq Instagram

Powered by Limino

bottom of page