Mark Rothko

Mark Rothko (1903-1970) was a pioneering American painter known for his significant contributions to abstract expressionism. Born Markus Yakovlevich Rothkowitz in Latvia, Rothko immigrated to the United States with his family at a young age. Rothko's art evolved from figurative and symbolic themes to what he is most known for today: large-scale paintings of luminous, soft-edged rectangles of color, which he felt could express fundamental human emotions. His mature style is characterized by layered, glowing washes of color that seem to float on the canvas. Works like "Orange and Yellow" (1956) and "No. 14" (1960) encapsulate Rothko's ability to evoke profound emotional responses through abstraction. In his later years, Rothko's "Seagram Murals," a series of dark, intense paintings, marked a dramatic shift in his palette and mood. Rothko's innovative approach to painting has had a profound influence on contemporary art. Today, his works are held in major museum collections worldwide and command high prices at auction.