Mark Rothko
This Pathfinder is intended for
undergraduate and graduate students at the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill who wish to learn more about the art and life of Mark Rothko. All
sources listed are available at the Sloane Art Library in the Hanes Art Center
on the UNC campus in Chapel Hill.
INTRODUCTION
"The progression of a painter's work, as it travels in time from
point to point, will be toward clarity: toward the elimination
of all obstacles between the painter and the idea and between
the idea and the observer. As examples of such obstacles, I
give (among others) memory, history or geometry, which are
swamps of generalization from which one might pull out
parodies of ideas (which are ghosts) but never an idea in itself.To achieve this clarity is, inevitably, to be understood."
MARK ROTHKO
Mark Rothko was born Marcus Rothkowitz in Dvinsk, Russia in 1903,
and emigrated to the United States in 1913. He studied painting
at the Art Students League under Max Weber, but considered himself
self-taught. Rothko was a member of what has become known as
the Abstract Expressionist or New York School, and he painted in
the Expressionist and Surrealist styles. In 1947 he developed the
style of painting that would be his signature throughout the rest
of his career. His paintings have been described as "rectangles
of subtly layered colors (that) appear to float in a space of
infinite depth, evoking intimacy and contemplation." In 1968 Rothko
was commissioned to do the paintings for an ecumenical chapel
in Houston, Texas. The canvases were dark and muted, unlike
his earlier work. Rothko considered them masterpieces. Not long
after he completed these dark paintings, Rothko committed suicide
in his New York studio.
ENCYCLOPEDIAS
Encyclopedias are the best place to begin for basic information
about Mark Rothko. Entries typically include a short biography,
a selected bibliography, and possibly an illustration or plate
of his work. Any of the sources below will provide a basic
introduction to Rothko's life and work.
- The Dictionary of Art. New York: Grove's Dictionaries, 1996.
Art Reference N31 .D5 1996 v.27
The entry on Rothko is on pages 219-223. There is a section titled
Life and Work and another on the Mark Rothko Foundation. A
bibliography is included, as well as two black and white
illustrations of his work.
- Piper, David. A-Z of Art and Artists. (1984)
Art Reference N40 .A964 1984
A short biography of Rothko appears on pages 374-375, and on page
413 there is a color illustration of Red, white and brown, 1957.
- The Oxford Dictionary of Art. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.
Art Ready Reference N33 .O93 1997
This is the descendant of The Oxford Companion to Art (1970),
The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Art (1981), and The
Oxford Companion to the Decorative Arts (1975). The entry on
Rothko appears on pages 488-489.
- The 20th-Century Art Book. London: Phaidon Press, 1996.
Art Reference N6490 .T946 1996
A simple but stylish source for information on artists
of the twentieth century. Each entry contains a very brief
biography, cross references with other artists that share similar
styles, and a beautiful large-format color plate of one work by
the artist. There is a also a thoughtful description of the artist's
work in general. Mark Rothko appears on page 398 and there is a
color plate of Red on Maroon, 1959.
- Contemporary Artists. Chicago: St. James Press, 1989.
Art Reference N6490 .C6567 1989
This source provides a short biography, listings of individual
exhibitions, selected group exhibitions, collections, and
publications by and about Rothko. These are followed by a longer,
more detailed biography. Rothko's entry is on pages 812-813.
- Chilvers, Ian. A Dictionary of Twentieth-Century Art. (1998)
Art Reference N6490 .C53 1998
Mark Rothko appears on pages 530-531 with a short biography.
INDEXES AND ABSTRACTS
These art indexes provide a listing, and in some cases
an abstract, of sources that contain information
about Mark Rothko.
- Art Index. New York: H.W. Wilson Company, 1933-1995.
Art Reference Z5937 .A78 1929-1994
An index of domestic and foreign publications in the field
of art, focusing primarily on periodicals. Yearbooks and museum
bulletins are included.
- Art Index (CD-ROM), 9/84-9/24/98. New York: H.W. Wilson Company,
1984-.
Art Reference CD-ROM
The CD-ROM version of Art Index indexes 313 periodicals. Entering
"rothko" in the subject field yielded 103 hits. The subject of
the search is underlined in Full Display, but one cannot browse
in Full Display.
- ARTbibliographies Modern. Santa Barbara, CA: Clio Press, 1969-.
Art Reference Z5935 .L64
Subject coverage begins in 1900, and the index includes
periodicals, articles, books, exhibition catalogs, theses, and
essays in books or exhibition catalogs.
- ARTbibliographies on Disc (CD-ROM), vol. 15-28, 1984-1998.
Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio, 1974-.
Art Reference CD-ROM
The CD-ROM version of ARTbibliographies Modern yielded 349 hits
when "rothko" was entered in the subject field. The directional
keys are required to navigate (mouse cannot be used). The subject
of the search is highlighted in Full Display, but one cannot
browse in Full Display.
- International Repertory of the Literature of Art (RILA).
Williamstown, MA: J. Paul Getty Trust-RILA, 1975-1988.
Art Reference Z5937 .R2 1975 v.1-1988 v.14
RILA is an abstracting and indexing service for current
publications in the history of art. It covers worldwide literature
on Western art. The abstracts are descriptive rather than
evaluative. There is a cumulative index.
- Art Literature International (CD-ROM). Williamstown, MA: J. Paul Getty Trust,
Getty Art History Information Program, 1973-1989.
Art Reference CD-ROM
The CD-ROM version of RILA yielded 164 hits when "rothko" was
entered in the subject field. The subject of the search is
highlighted in Full Display, but one cannot browse in Full
Display.
- Bibliography of the History of Art (BHA). Santa Monica, CA: The Getty
Art History Information Program-INIST, 1991-.
Art Reference Z5937 .R42 v.1 n.1 1991-v.6 n.4 1996
This is the successor to RILA, and covers current literature of
European art from late Antiquity to the present and American
art from the European discoveries to the present. There is a
cumulative index.
- Bibliography of the History of Art (CD-ROM). Santa Monica, CA:
J. Paul Getty Trust, Getty Art History Information Program, 1991-.
Art Reference CD-ROM
The CD-ROM version of the Bibliography of the History of Art
provides the following information for each document it indexes:
document type, title, author, itinerary (for exhibition catalogs),
source, exhibition year, publication year, language(s), ISBN,
abstract, classification, sec. classification, and subject strings.
Rothko's work is classified in the index as "analytic."
CATALOGS
Catalogs are invaluable for those who wish to see Rothko's art.
They are the best source for images of the paintings with
the obvious exception of viewing them in person.
- Waldman, Diane. Mark Rothko, 1903-1970: A Retrospective. (1978)
Art ND237 .R725 A4 1978
Second only to the catalog by Jeffrey Weiss as a document
encompassing the paintings of Rothko. There are more color plates
than in the Weiss catalog (198), but the Weiss catalog is still
recommended as the exhibition is currently being held. This, the
Waldman catalog, also contains a chronology and selected
bibliography.
- Waldman, Diane. Mark Rothko in New York. (1994)
Art ND237 .R725 A6 1994
This catalog is not for an exhibition but rather a documentation
of the paintings of Mark Rothko that are held by museums in New
York City. It contains 49 color plates as well as a biography and
a bibliography.
- Weiss, Jeffrey. Mark Rothko. (1998)
Art N6537 .R63 A4 1998
This catalog of the retrospective exhibition that is currently
being held is the best source for an introduction to the work
of Mark Rothko. In addition to the 116 color plates are four
essays, five interviews with artists about their experiences
with Rothko and his work, and a chronology of Rothko's life.
- Mark Rothko. New York: Tate Gallery, 1987.
Art ND237 .R725 A4 1987
This catalog of the exhibition at London's Tate Gallery from
17 June-1 September 1987 contains 93 color plates, seven essays, a
selected bibliography, and writings by Mark Rothko.
- Mark Rothko: the Last Paintings. New York: PaceWildenstein, 1994.
Art ND237 .R725 A4 1994
This small catalog is interesting for its subject matter, the last
paintings by Rothko. There are 11 color plates, as well as a
listing of selected books and exhibition catalogs.
SELECTED TEXTS
This list of texts includes biographies, criticism, interpretations,
and histories. They are recommended as sources for those interested
in specific aspects of Rothko's life or work, or for those who
would like a more detailed overview of the same.
- Ashton, Dore. About Rothko. (1983)
Art ND237 .R725 A93 1983
This is a good biography written by a friend of Rothko's. In
deciding how to go about writing the book, Dore Ashton explains
that "I have finally relied on my own friendship with Rothko
that lasted from my youth to his death in 1970 -- some eighteen
years." In addition to 16 color plates of Rothko's work, there
is a selected bibliography and a brief chronology (though less
brief than most).
- Chave, Anna. Mark Rothko: Subjects in Abstraction. (1989)
Art ND237 .R725 C5 1989This text asks the question "What, and how, do Rothko's classic
paintings signify?" It is a good source of information for those
interested in Rothko's insistence that his paintings were not
abstract. Chave says "I am concerned precisely with how abstract
art may be coded, how it may communicate and resist communicating."
Included are 24 color plates of work spanning Rothko's career.
- Nodelman, Sheldon. The Rothko Chapel Paintings: Origins, Structure, Meaning. (1997)
Art ND237 .R725 N63 1997
A great source for those interested in the Rothko Chapel, the
non-denominational church in Houston, Texas for which Rothko
created several paintings.
True to the title of the book, Nodelman explores the origins,
structure, and meaning of the Rothko Chapel.
In addition to 13 color plates of the Rothko Chapel Paintings,
there are 8 plates of related work by Rothko, and 96
illustrations. Recommended in addition to the Weiss catalog.
- Barnes, Susan J. The Rothko Chapel: An Act of Faith. (1989)
Art N6535 .H68 B37 1989
Another book on the Rothko Chapel, this one explores the background
of the project, the making of the Chapel, and the installation
of Rothko's paintings. There are 4 color plates, many illustrations,
and a selected bibliography.
- Mark Rothko's Harvard Murals. Cambridge, MA: Center for Conservation and Technical Studies,
Harvard University Art Museums, 1988.
Art ND237 .R725 M375 1988
An interesting story about the paintings that Rothko did for
Harvard University, which began to deteriorate. There is a
detailed description of the technical analyses that were
conducted on the canvases to determine a course of action for
preserving them. Illustrations of studies and finished works.
- Ashton, Dore. The New York School: a Cultural Reckoning. (1973)
Art NX504 .A87 1973
A history of the New York School, with a good amount of
information on Rothko.
- Abstract Expressionism: the Critical Developments. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. (1987)
Art ND212.5 .A25 A22 1987
Recommended as an introduction to Abstract Expressionism or the
New York School, which emerged in the early 1950s in New York City.
Pages 234-239 are devoted to Rothko, a key participant in the
activities of this time.
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art. New York School, the First Generation: Paintings of
the 1940s and 1950s. Greenwich: New York Graphic Society, 1971.
Art ND235 .N45 L65 1971
Rothko is covered on pages 139-146 of this text, which includes writings
by critics, artists' statements and works, and a bibliography.
BROWSING AREAS
The Sloane Library holds the largest concentration of materials by and
about Mark Rothko on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus
- ND237 .R725, Sloane Art Library, second floor
Take a left when you get off the elevator
WEB PAGES
The World Wide Web can provide information, images, and access
to other materials on Rothko in addition to the sources discussed above.
LC SUBJECT HEADINGS
These subject headings can help guide you in your search for
materials about Mark Rothko
- Rothko, Mark, 1903-1970
- Abstract expressionism
- New York school of art
- Color-field painting
Scans by Mark Harden