Product Description
This beautifully produced, oversized monograph on the Americanartist Mark Rothko, presents over 100 of his works in full-color plates thatreveal his remarkable genius. Rothko is one of the towering figures ofAbstract Expressionism, and in fact, of 20th-century painting as a whole.His paintings, predominantly in a large format and featuring horizontallayers of pigment on a monochrome foundation, will forever be in ourpictorial memory as the epitome of classical modernism. By consideringRothko's central groups of works from all creative periods-among them theRothko Room in the Phillips Collection and the Harvard Murals at HarvardUniversity-this book documents the artist's continuous struggle to arrive at"a consummated experience between picture and onlooker." Rothko's adamantinsistence on controlling the presentation of his works set him apart fromthe art scene as early as the 1950s. His pictures were to be hung closelytogether in small rooms, in which soft lighting and his large formats wereto provide an immediate viewing experience. This book attempts to recreatethat atmosphere with a large, uninterrupted plate section that brings tolife the vibrancy and power of these paintings, especially when looked at inabundance. In addition to the over 100 color works, "Mark Rothko" includesessays about specific groups of work, an extensive, year by year,descriptive chronology of his life and work, and an exhaustive bibiographyof writings about him from the past five years. An essential addition to anycollection on 20th century art.

Mark Rothko was born in Russia in 1903, and emigrated to the United Statesas a child. He studied at Yale University and the Art Students League in NewYork. He was a founder of the Expressionist group "The Ten" in 1935. Hecontinued to work and exhibit until his death by suicide in 1970. His workhas been shown in solo exhibitions both during and after his life at majorpublic institutions throughout the United States, and is in most majorcollections of modern art.

Essays by Marjorie B. Cohn, Franz Meyer, Eliza E.Rathbone, Jeffrey Weissand Oliver Wick.

102 color and 52 b&w illustrations

11 x 12.25 inches ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Good book, great artist
I first saw Mark Rothko's work as a student working on my bachelors degree in fine art and he changed my life and changed how I look at art. Everyone who wants to learn how to be a fine artist has to look at his painting's to appreciate what modern art is all about. Of course you have to see the painting's in person and most big cities have a museum where you can see Rothko's but this book is an exellent place to start to learn about him and to learn how to look at art. Some people complain about the color not being perfect but for the price what can you expect. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn about modern art.

A Convert
I must admit that I have not been the biggest fan of Mark Rothko, but after reading this book and seeing the quality plates, I am very much a fan of Rothko.Now, when I go to museums, I am very interested in seeing his work and studying his color, edges, paint handling and spirit.This book is worth owning.

Excellent overview of Rothko
I saw the original show that went with this book.While the book cannot do justice to the works one can still appreciate the greatness of Rothko by reading/viewing it.

there IS a problem with the color
I recently bought this book, and I want to comment on the discussion regarding the color - the color is NOT great, and it does NOT show Rothko's work in its best light.Anyone who says differently should get their eyes checked.That being said, other than that it seems to be a very nice book, and I'll still be glad to have it in my library.I just need another book for better color reference.

a beautiful exhibition
This is the catalogue for a beautiful exhibition that was held at the Beyeler Foundation. Many of the works reproduced are hidden in private collections (e.g. a huge 1958 canvas in black, white and red) and it is great to be able to admire them. Nothing replaces the live experience of being engulfed in a Rothko, standing a short distance from the canvas itself, but this book is undoubtedly a valuable addition in any art library. ... Read more

Product Description
--Includes 86 drawings and sketches reproduced in full color dating from the late 1920s through 1969 --Two gatefolds nearly three feet wide make it possible to view studies of Rothko's work,many of them reproduced in their actual sizes Mark Rothko, a monumental figure in twentieth-century American art and a founder of Abstract Expressionism, is universally known for his huge paintings depicting floating rectangles of glowing colors. Less well known are his works on paper: he held onto most of these, and they were unavailable and largely unknown during his lifetime and during the long years of litigation that followed his death. Now the finest of them can at last be seen. Mark Rothko: Works on Paper presents the intimate legacy of a giant of modern art. As author Bonnie Clearwater writes,With the symmetry, tidy execution, and minimal gesture, the small works on paper often seem to be more quintessential Rothko than many of his canvases. They should be appreciated for their subtlety, their directness, and what they disclose about the artists aesthetic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A top pick for any college-level art library
Mark Rothko is a founder of Abstract Expressionism and a leading figure in 20th century American art, known for his huge paintings depicting floating rectangles of glowing colors. MARK ROTHKO: WORKS ON PAPER packs in over eighty drawings and sketches in full color from the late 1920s through 1969, and comes from the curator of the Mark Rothko Foundation. Her collection demonstrates his techniques and style on canvas and paper paintings, and is a top pick for any college-level art library.

Small-scale Rothko
This book is a reprint of the catalogue for a 1984 exhibition which focused on a seldom studied aspect of Rothko's work: his works on paper (acrylic, tempera, watercolor, oil, pen and ink). Very complete, full of marvelous illustrations, it starts with a short introduction by Dore Ashton (who gives an intimate look into the work and thought of an artist she personally knew)and then studies Rothko's works on paper in a chronological and very complete essay written by curator Bonnie Clearwater. All the plates are in color and, to my knowledge, very close to the originals. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

A good introduction
If you do not want to spend a fortune and still read a good introduction to Rothko's work, this is the best choice. It covers the whole career of the artist in a text which is short and easy to read, with surprisingly good illustrations of famous or rarely seen works (many are in private collections, like the one on the cover). This is what you call good value for your money. Do not expect, though, to have a comprehensive analysis on each of the works; I would call this book "Rothko for beginners", which is, in no way, a negative opinion.

a terrific little bargain
There are many larger, fatter and even better books on Rothko, but this little volume is pretty solid. At ten bucks, you shouldn't even wait for the second thought: it's a sure thing. It includes a wealth of color reproductions, and frankly their scale is surprisingly generous for a book of modest dimensions. Some are as large as the repros in all but the largest-format Rothko books.Taschen has wisely chosen to devote a full, text-less page to most of the canvases reprinted here, and the photography is fine and sensitive. Good quality photos like these reveal nuances that make the photos effectively "larger".

The text covers Rothko's life and analyzes his thought, innovations and development through abundant quotations and sound analysis. There's unusually full exploration of his early work, and a good chapter on his symbolist-surrealist myth-paintings (though I miss seing "Slow Swirl by the Edge of the Sea.") The book also includes a few works by other artists where appropriate (as in the reprint of a Matisse painting that Rothko answered with his "Hommage to Matisse"). It's a complete yet efficient book, as are most of the titles in this series.

My sole important reservation about the book concerns the minimal coverage of the essential "multiform" period of Rothko's work--only three or so examples appear here. That's an important failing, but not enough to dull my overall enthusiasm. ... Read more

Product Description
Tate Publishing is proud to announce a new series on important international artists, beautifully designed and with superbly printed reproductions. The Essential Artists series provides, in each volume, everything necessary for the enjoyment and understanding of the world’s greatest artists:


•Introduction to the artists’ lives and works
•Information on materials and working methods
•Writings by the artists and by contemporary and current critics
•Where to see the art
•More than 100 expertly printed color reproductions

Written by leading experts on the artists Mark Rothko (1903–1970) was one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century. His work is intensely charged with meaning and emotion, portraying human feelings rather then color or form. In this lavishly illustrated survey, Bonnie Clearwater traces the development of Rothko’s career, from his arrival in the United States as a child through to the formation of his mature style, and examines his initial influences and interactions with other artists. Drawing on the artist’s own letters and writings, The Rothko Book provides the most comprehensive introduction yet to this complex and fascinating figure. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Scholarly Treatment
Excellent!I lose myself in this book and become absorbed in the work.Very well handled by Ms. Clearwater and the Tate.She brings multifaceted views to Mr. Rothko's work.Erudite commentary on a visionary artist.Bravo.

Great for Research
Wrote a 20 page research paper on Rothko and this book was an excellent resource. Each essay approached different ways to see and understand Rothko's art and technique.Fantastic images.

Beyond Brilliant
Beyond Brilliant.The Rothko Book: Tate Essential Artist Series is the most succinctexploration of the soul and embodiment of a true artist.Nothing I studied getting my MFA gave me the same profundity of an artist's journey into the creation of a new visual language.The struggles, investigations, successes and failures of the thought process as well as the physical prowess it takes to bring the vision of the artist to the appreciator of the art. Bravo to Bonnie Clearwater

Color plates more exciting than the text
Interesting historical material in the early part of the book.Lapses unduly into artspeak when discussing the later classical Rothko paintings. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Art not just for arts' sake
In this interesting and enlightening book, Lee Seldes takes us into a world few of us will ever know. Most of us go to museums and enjoy the works, but we never think of the wheeling and dealing behind it. Seldes first shows us the troubled artist, then shows how greedy individuals will do whatever they need to to scam, lie and steal to increase their bank accounts and inflate the prices of the works they own. We see how Kate Rothko, still in school, must fight multi millionaire art dealers and powerful galleries to get what is rightfully hers, and to see that her father's legacy is presented and perserved the way he wanted it to be. If you're a lover of modern art, the works of Mark Rothko or even to a degree a fan of mystery stories, you'll enjoy this book and continue thinking about it long after you've finished reading.

An EXCELLENT book on Mark Rothko!
Ms. Seldes has produced a superb book! This is a must read for anyone interested in Mark Rothko, the Matter of Rothko, or the ugly commercial world of art. While her writings on the lawsuits and the cast of characters are somewhat confusing, it's hard to blame the author because the subject matter itself was confusing! The book was almost hard to believe that it was non-fiction! It had all the intrigue of Swiss banks, Concorde jetsetters, the New York art scene, and tax havens like Bahamas and Lichtenstein -- and it all really happened! I congratulate Ms. Seldes on a very strong effort! ... Read more

Product Description
This extraordinary book is the first volume of the definitive catalogue raisonn_ of Rothko`s work. It documents his entire output of paintings on canvas and panel, reproducing all the works in color. An introductory text also investigates every essential feature of his art.

Published in association with the National Gallery of Art, Washington

. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Most complete work on Rothko's paintings
For those who admire Rothko's paintings, this book is an absolute "must". This masterpiece got a special place in my living room. Of all the books I have about the abstract-expressionist Rothko, this is the most complete one. Once you start turning the pages, one soon understands that Rothko was a hard worker, and that it took him all the energy during his life to make this number of magnificent paintings.

Great Gift
bought this for my daughter who loves Rothko's work.She's impressed by the amount of information about him and his art.

Highly informative and recommended
It's great to see all of Rothko's paintings all together from the very beginning to the very end. A worthwhile, well researched, and well executed project visually. The sheer size of the book which is akin to a massive dictionary makes reading the essay without a table for support quite a challenge but this is an unavoidable inconvenience. I have heard that there is a new updated edition coming out soon.

A Fan of Anfam's Rothko
Opening the package as it arrived from Amazon, easing this massive catalogue from its slipcase triggered a memory: walking to the edge of the Grand Canyon.With similar impact: awe.David Anfam brings the readerwith him to encounter, view, & experience Rothko's work. His ten-yeardedication paid off with the discovery of "lost" titles, settingthe chronology of 836 works on canvas, (he couldn't have been afraid to gethis hands dirty) & analyzing the slow struggle, sporadic leapsengendered by the painter in the evolution of the oeuvre.As scholar,teacher, critic, curator, & especially writer, Anfam proves the perfectchoice to perform the daunting, almost impossible task of bringing Rothkointo focus.

The author insightfully tracks the early representationalbeginnings, (his foray into narrative linked with crossing boundaries istotally appropriate for the artist from Dvinsk, Portland, New York) throughthe mythological (application of Kermode's distinction between"Chronos" & "Kairos" is utterly intriguing), &makes a case for Rembrandt as the source for Rothko's obsessions withtragedy & darkness, Vermeer his source for color's sensuality.Anfamtraces in detail, using numerous examples of the brilliant reproductions,how the multiforms foreshadowed the work of the classic period.Thearchitectural contexts for the Chapel are pure genius:Vincent Scully's,"The Earth, the Temple, & the Gods";Joseph Rykwert's,"The Dancing Column";& Leo Bersani's, Ulysse Dutoit's,"Arts of Impoverishment."

Anfam's breadth of vocabulary isEnglish, yet he has benfitted from years in the States with a rapid,laconic language that impels the reader forward, informs succinctly. Purposely parrying time-worn quarrels, he unearths the more"thorny," "shady" aspects of dilemmas presented by sucha complex art.

Two things happened as a result of reading MARK ROTHKO /THE WORKS on CANVAS / CATALOGUE RAISONNE.During a recent visit to C&MGallery in NY for a show of eight Rothko's, alone in the second room, Iheard them. A few nights ago I had a dream of a handwritten note on a tablein the front room of an auction house that said, "The LastPainting."Rereading Helene Cixous's essay by that name (subtitled,"Or the Portrait of God"), she writes,"I think of the lastRembrandt. A man? Or a painting?"[in Cixous', "Coming toWriting and other Essays."]Anfam has presented us with thetriumphant Rothko.

A must for any Rothko fan.
This is the first publication with his entire collection of works on canvas. Even lost paintings are represented by old black and white photographs.The images are not large, but the quality of this book is wonderful.By far the bestbuy for any Rothko fan (besides an original...) ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Huge dissapointment from Taschen Publishers.
I am very accustomed to purchasing the 25th anniversary special artists book only to pre-order this as well as a couple other of there new releases to fine the page quality to be bad, most of all the size of the new editions are about half the size of the prior series. (i guess cheaping out during economical times) The prior 25th special editions are great, these new ones are a disappointment and almost a waste of paper. also funny how they are still charging the same price for much less in these new editions as the older editions. The others bought are Haring, and Freud. ... Read more

Product Description
In this major critical appraisal, Diane Waldman assesses Mark Rothko's place in the history of twentieth-century art. She writes of his childhood as an immigrant from Russia, his student days at Yale, his early career as a struggling artist, and his crucial role in the development of the New York School of Abstract Expressionism. The progression of his work is analysed in detail, from his early figurative experiments of the 1920s to the emergence of his characteristic mature abstract style, with a particularly illuminating discussion of the achievement of the late canvases. His relationship with such contemporaries as Adolph Gottlieb and Clyfford Still is also examined in some depth. A detailed chronology of Rothko's life and an exhaustive exhibitions list and bibliography are valuable ancillary features. The many illustrations include not only reproductions of oils and water-colours, but also photographs of the artist, his family and friends. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Colorless Rothko
This book is a reprint of thecatalogue for the memorable 1978 exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in NYC, which was the first large-scale Rothko retrospective to be mounted after the artist's death. As such, the text, written by an authority on post-war American art (Diane Waldman)has become a classic and the short contribution by writer Bernard Malamud recalling his friendship with the artist is a moving piece of literature.

Unfortunately, out of 275 illustrations, only about a third are in color (practically all of the early works are reproduced in black and white), which is rather frustrating to a Rothko lover. Therefore, only three stars to this book... ... Read more

Product Description
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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Italian Rothko
This is the accompanying catalogue for a Rothko retrospective held at the Pallazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome, in late 2007 early 2008. It is very complete and full of high-quality illustrations that cover the entire career of the artist.

Now, the text is specifically centered on an unusual aspect: Rothko viewed through an Italian lens. This study angle allows the authors to tackle such themes as the dual quality of Rothko's oeuvre -modern and at the same time anchored in tradition, especially and surprisingly, in Italian tradition (here the argument is buttressed by the study of one of Rothko's transitional sketchbooks that recall Renaissance roots)- the philosophy of the artist, his journeys through Italy ("the memory of Italy is glorious" he once said), and some more particular points such as his relationship with the Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni, and the critical reception of his works in Italy.

So many books are available on Mark Rothko that it is no small feat to have published one that brings new life to his oeuvre through a heretofore never studied aspect of it.

Not the same book as the search inside function
Amazon have been doing this alot lately, linking books and making it appear they are reprints of the same book when in fact these three linked Rothko titles are three different books. So the customer reviews here also relate to three distinctly different books and the search inside function only shows you the paperback book.

After a bit of research it appears that this Skira publication has 204 pages, 90 colour plates depicting 70 paintings and 28 drawings. It is a catalogue to accompany an exhibition in Rome and has different contributors than the other two books.

THe paperback Rothko book by Yale has 376 pages and was published to accompany an exhibition in Washington in 1998. I own this and am happy with the reproduction quality. It has 116 colour plates.

THe other hardback Rothko book has 204 pages, 102 colour plates.

It is very misleading of Amazon to link the three and hard to make an informed decision whether to buy the title or not based on the info provided.

Beautiful reproductions
This is a very fine collection and reflects more than just Rothko's colorfield paintings. There's a bit of biographical information and some nice commentary, but that isn't really the focus here. The beautiful reproductions are the real reason to purchase this book over other Rothko volumes. There are quite a few Rothko books around these days. Some have better commentary and criticism, while others have more extensive biographical information. What this Skira edition has going for it is the amazing reproductions.

I've seen a few complaints concerning the color and image quality. I'm not sure if these reviewers received, but my edition is stunning. When looking at Rothko reproduced, it's important to remember that he intensionally thinned his colors. Often when we see a Rothko reproduction, the color is too saturated - sometimes to the point that we might as well be looking at a Barnett Newman! Anyone who has had a chance to see a Rothko colorfield in all its glory will doubtlessly find this collection to be faithfully reproduced, and without enhancement.

My favorite feature of this book is the size. Naturally, it's woefully inadequate when compared to seeing one of his paintings in person, but since we don't all live near a major museum, this book will suffice. The size is large enough that the paintings begin to fill your field of vision, so long as you're holding it in front of you. With smaller reproductions, you don't get the same sense of space, and thus, you lose a great deal. This book (about one square foot) seems to strike a balance between size and affordability. Taschen will inevitably publish a massive four foot tall Rothko edition at some point, but even when they do, I sure won't be able to afford it!

If you're looking for a great collection representing each of Rothko's periods with uniformly excellent quality, this book is for you. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (7)

A Fascinating Book
Long one of my favorite painters of the 20th Century, Mark Rothko is now one of my favorite art theorists.The Artist's Reality is lively and readable, the ideas are not written in such a way that they obfuscate meaning, as so much art theory seems to be, but to reveal, to share.I felt as though I had had an opportunity to sit down with one of the giants of Modern Art (with capitals)and listen to his early- and mid-career ruminations on philosophy, art history and art theory that eventually led to the now iconic paintings of the legendary painter. In fact, this avowedly (by the editor)"unfinished" book easily convinces the reader of the inevitability of that journey, and its ever-forward motion.
As a painter first and an art historian second, I have to say that the chapter on "The Artist's Dilemma" was worth the price of the book. But so were several other chapters. I love painters who think about painting, virtually all the time; it's obvious that Rothko was passionately involved with the act and the thinking behind the act. Perhaps it was became he came to love painting late, as an adult.
Some reviewers have apparently had a problem with Rothko's son Christopher editing the manuscript (which was in bits and pieces) for publication, its having been hidden away for many years before and after Rothko's suicide in 1970 and only recently (2004) brought out in its current form. I don't; I think the son did his father proud. Mark Rothko comes across as an intelligent, thoughtful, creative painter and man. It is a lovely book, indeed.

A journal.
Kandinsky's "Concerning the Spiritual in Art" was my first introduction into true meaning in art.Caused upheavel in my artist reality.Rothko conferred it in this book.Philosophical and deep, will cause any artist concerned about the artifacts they leave behind to requestion their sincerety and cause.His writing is up their with Kandinsky and Motherwell.

A deeply thought out and original meditation on the Artist's Reality
This book has a wonderful introduction written by the Mark Rothko's son Christopher Rothko. He explains the way some years after his father's death the manuscript was discovered, and edited. Mark Rothko never finished the work but rather left it off in draft form, perhaps as his son speculates because he became involved in his principal work, painting, again.
The book consists of a series of short essays on such subjects as 'The Artist's Dilemna' 'Art as a Natural Biological Function' 'Art as a form of Action' 'The Integrity of the Plastic Process' 'Art Reality and Sensuality' 'Plasticity' 'Space' 'Naturalism''Subject and Subject Matter'
'Beauty' ' The Attempted Myth today'.
Rothko considers the artist's ultimate reason for doing what he does. He rejects the idea that the first reason is the desire for immortalization. He rejects the idea that the artist " wishes any charity in regard to his self- assumed sacrifice" He claims instead that the Artist " wants nothing but the understanding and love of what he does."
Rothko writes profoundly and often movingly.
A highly recommended work.

athe artist's reality:philosophies of art
this is basically a personal journal. The artist's ruminations about art and life - very dry reading. Rothko often contradicts himself. There are several books available (such as those published by Taschen) which are much more readable and are filled with beautiful illustrations of the artist's work.

simple expression of a complex thought
Mark Rothko wanted the viewer of his work to engage in the metaphysical. Yes, his paintings are beautiful colour works, yet the impact on ones pysche is where Rothko wanted to communicate. Colour was his tool. Philosophically he was a profound man and this book has given great insight into how relevant [important] Rothko is to annals of Art History.When an artist expresses the spiritual, emotional, academic, through colour and the scale of the painting, he engages the viewer on so many levels. This book gives insights, and is a worthwhile acquistion to the understanding of the man, Rothko! ... Read more

Product Description
Mark Rothko (1903-1970) was one of a small group of great artists who helped establish New York as the dominant centre of world art in the 1950s, where he was one of the leading artists of the American-led Abstract Expressionist movement. Rothko's work was considered controversial in his elimination of line, leaving only colour to convey content. He remarked that he was "no colourist" and that to think so was to misunderstand his art, yet colour was his sole medium. At his death in 1970 Rothko left an immense store of paintings which became the subject of a celebrated lawsuit that brought the artist, his work and associates into the public eye. This book, first published to coincide with a major exhibition of Rothko's work in 1987, contains essays by two major scholars of the period, Professor Robert Rosenblum and Irving Sandler, along with contributions by two members of the Rothko Foundation, Bonnie Clearwater and Dana Cramer. Contributions from Michael Compton, then Keeper of Museum Services at the Tate Gallery, and leading critics David Sylvester and Robert Goldwater are also included. The bibliography and exhibition history have been fully updated for this edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Description
"This collection of thirty postcard reproductions of the paintings of Mark Rothko traces his development from the figure painting of his youth to the large-scale paintings that made him one of the best-known exponents of Colorfield Painting in the United States during the 1950s."--Strand Bookstore

A great introduction to Mark Rothko.
This is a great introduction to the works of Mark Rothko.The reproductions of his work are veryinteresting.There is some background information on Rothko and some essays from other artists. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Better than I expected
The book arrived sooner and in excellent, "like new" condition, not at all what I was expecting.The person it was given to as a gift (and I) couldn't be happier... I will definitely use this seller again when looking for that hard to find litriture.

Silences Broken
Mark Rothko created some of the more spiritually radiant paintings of any artist form any ear. That his paintings were abstractions - blocks of color conjoined by a marriage of midline intercourse of pigment - makes this accomplishment something that still befuddles art critics and historians and viewers alike.Here at last, some thirty-six years after his death by suicide, editor Miguel Lopez-Remiro has gathered notes from his addresses to Pratt Institute, letters to artists and friends and curators and writers, proving that Rothko was not the silent warden of explanations about his work: he was an eloquent spokesman and writer who simply felt that words were unnecessary in people's experience of his visual statements.

He wrote, 'I have never thought that painting a picture has anything to so with self-expression.It is a communication about the world to someone else.After the world is convinced about this communication it changes.The world was never the same after Picasso or Miro.Theirs was a view of the world which transformed our vision of things.' Kind accolades from a man once thought to be a recluse.In response to art critics' questions he merely state 'A painting doesn't need anybody to explain what it is about.If it is any good, it speaks for itself.'

Rothko's writings collected in this book demonstrate that he did indeed have the ability to discuss his mysteriously beautiful works: he also makes it clear that the communication between his paintings and the viewer should relay on the spiritual needs and vulnerabilities.These letters and essays are informative, well arranged chronologically by Lopez-Remiro, and graciously allowed to stand alone for their impact, much in the way his paintings must stand alone - usually in context with other Rothko paintings in isolated rooms with special lighting that gives the work the sense in frailty and intransigence.Highly recommended reading for those who have experience the miracle of standing before a Rothko image.Grady Harp, May 06 ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (7)

highly comprehensive bio
at times a dense read, this provides detail about rothko's life starting from his family's origins. once you wade through to the art, this book is a extremely interesting story about an extremely interesting man.

One of the best books on art let alone Rothko
Only a few biographies of artists are any good. A Giacometti Portrait by James Lord and Picasso by John Richardson and Jackson Pollock by Steven Naifeh come to mind. After reading this excellent biography I must place it with these great books. I am tired of reading art critics who obscure great art rather than illuminate it. This work opens up to the layman in simple and clear writing the beauty and complexity of this modern artist in his struggle to create meaningful and profound art. In this post modernist world such ambitions are scoffed at. Irony is easy but to be profound is the most dangerous thing an artist can attempt. He risks being pompous and bombastic. But Rothko avoids these pitfalls and in the process has become one of our greatest artists. I hope you have as much fun reading this as I did. Books like this are rare. Get it.

Heavy going but worth it if you commit yourself to it
This bio is long and plodding with too much agonizingly detailed information about Rothko's early life, his parents' lives, his wives, etc., etc.and long, minute examinations and descriptions of early paintings.

HOWEVER, along about 200 pages, it begins to redeem itself and TURNS INTO 4 or 4 1/2 STARS. (I first rated it at 3 but changed my mind although I couldn't change the stars.) It portrays Rothko in enough detail that you get a sense of him as a person and an artist, and it raises some interesting questions; not only questions that Rothko faced, but questions that all artists face. For example, the question of meaning in art, is art basically decoration for rich people, should an artist continue to make art when it becomes just another commodity for investment, should a collector love the individual painting or should you sell him a painting just so he has a "Rothko" (or a Natale)? Should an artist make statements explaining what the work is about or just let it stand (or fall) on its own? How much does an artist owe her/his gallerist or collectors in terms of loyalty? Should an artist explore various formats or just keep repeating something that works?

Breslin has obviously devoted himself to a tremendously in-depth study of Rothko and treasures every detail about him. I have to respect that, but I also want to get another perspective (although Breslin quotes a lot of Rothko's intimates) and so I'm reading another bio by Dore Ashton.

YIKES ITS 700 PAGES LONG !!!!
I wasnt that interested in his childhood..its the adult fired from brooklyn college unable to sell many paintings id like to know more about!!!!
However this is the book to read if you want to know the facts of his life.

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I am a painter, an art professor, and a reader of biographies. I couldnt put this book down. Breslin did a magnificent job of getting inside the psyche ofRothko as a man, and as an artist. The paragraphs that describe the way in which Rothko created one of his paintings is absolutely inspired....I had goose-bumps reading it, because it seemed as if Breslin,unlike many writers who say they have observed artists, actually understood the process of creation and the passion behind it. I have never written a fan letter to a writer, but I began one to Mr.Breslin. Imagine my distress and sorrow when I read the next day in the paper that he had passed away! But this book lives as a testament to his thorough research and love of the subject. Get this book and read it....if you love art, artists, or scholarship,you will not be disappointed. ... Read more

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The paintings executed in 1964-1967 by American artist Mark Rothko for the Rothko Chapel in Houston represent the fulfillment of the artist's lifelong ambition and a breakthrough in twentieth-century art. Unlike previous sets of paintings commissioned for the Seagram Building and Harvard University, the Chapel commission allowed Rothko to determine the architectural setting and lighting in which the paintings would appear. This proved to be the catalyst for a new mode of pictorial dynamics based on a kind of interaction of paintings, architecture, and light previously unknown. No painting in the set could be understood in isolation from the rest or apart from its place in the architectural setting. The Rothko Chapel Paintings explores this interdependence of paintings and place. As viewers move about the Chapel's octagonal enclosure, over whose walls the fourteen panels are continuously distributed, they discover systems of pictorial interactions which become the terms or characters of a cosmological drama in which the viewer is a necessary participant. In the act of vision, the embodied viewer is prompted not merely to witness but also to reenact that questioning of human destiny which has preoccupied the Western spiritual tradition. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

A high-quality (though not groundbreaking) publication
The catalogue for last year's blockbuster show at the Tate Gallery in London, this book focuses on Rothko's late series (the Seagram Murals, the late black on gray paintings). It is therefore not a complete retrospective of the artist's career (at least four other books are available if you are looking for a broader study of his art), but it nevertheless is a high-quality publication with many first-rate illustrations of Rothko's darkest and most austere works. Interesting essays by leading authorities on the artist (especially by David Anfam, the author of the widely praised catalogue raisonné of Rothko's paintings) explain the significance of this shift to a darker palette, the importance of the relationship between the paintings and the space they were meant to be hung in, the artist's mood and psyche during the 1960's, his uneasiness with success and money, or his rejection of a purely decorative and colorful art.

On the whole a valuable addition to the albeit extensive literature on the artist. Do not expect any breakthrough study though, most of the ideas that appear in these essays having already been expressed in earlier publications (by Diane Waldman, Jeffrey Weiss and, of course, David Anfam)with the exception of the chapter dealing with the pigments and components used by the artist, with very interesting photographs of the different layers of paint. ... Read more

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A large collection of Mark Rothko's work is held by New York's five encyclopedic art museums - the Brooklyn Museum, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. This volume illustrates every work by Rothko in these museums in colour reproductions and surveys his entire career. Whilst Rothko is most famous for his color-field canvases, he also created early oils and watercolors. This work focuses on how working in New York shaped Rothko's career and examines the question of what it means to be an artist in this city. ... Read more

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In the summer of 1957, Milton Avery, Adolph Gottlieb, and Mark Rothko renewed a friendship that had begun in the late 20s. All three were in Provincetown, on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, in the light and by the sea, and over the next few extraordinary summers they interacted, and advanced and accelerated radical new ideas in their individual bodies of work. The Provincetown summers witnessed Avery's largest and most abstract paintings, such as Sunset Sea of 1958, and the development of new directions in Gottlieb's work, including his 1957 paintings Blast II and Blue at Night. This same time marked the darkening of Rothko's palette and, in 1958, the birth of the new forms found in the Seagram Murals and the later paintings of of the Harvard commission. Coming to Light is the first publication and exhibition to focus on the works of this period by each artist.

Edited by E.A. Carmean.
Essays by Philip Cavanaugh, Sean Avery Cavanaugh, Tony Vevers, Christopher Rothko, William Scharf, Justin Spring, Madeleine Sentner and Edye Weissler.
Introduction by Robert Henry.
Foreword by Ann Freedman.

Hardcover, 10.25 x 9.75 in.,22 color,9 duotone illustrations ... Read more