🫥Abstract Expressionism Unit 6 – Rothko: Color Fields and the Sublime

Who Was Mark Rothko?

• Born in 1903 in Dvinsk, Russia (now Daugavpils, Latvia) as Marcus Rothkowitz
• Immigrated to the United States with his family in 1913, settling in Portland, Oregon
• Attended Yale University briefly before moving to New York City to pursue art
• Studied under Max Weber at the Art Students League of New York
• Became a prominent figure in the Abstract Expressionist movement during the 1940s and 1950s
• Known for his large-scale, color field paintings that evoke deep emotions and contemplation
• Struggled with depression throughout his life, which influenced his work
• Died by suicide in 1970 at the age of 66 in his New York studio

The Birth of Color Field Painting

• Color Field painting emerged as a subgenre of Abstract Expressionism in the late 1940s and early 1950s
• Characterized by large areas of flat, solid color that dominate the canvas
• Aims to create a contemplative, meditative experience for the viewer
• Pioneers of Color Field painting include Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman, and Clyfford Still
• Influenced by the work of European modernists such as Henri Matisse and Piet Mondrian
• Differs from gestural abstraction, another subgenre of Abstract Expressionism, which emphasizes visible brushstrokes and the artist's hand
• Color Field painters sought to eliminate any sense of figuration or representation in their work
• Focused on the emotional and spiritual power of pure color and its ability to evoke the sublime

Rothko's Artistic Evolution

• Began his career painting figurative and surrealist works in the 1920s and 1930s
• Transitioned to abstraction in the early 1940s, influenced by the work of Vasily Kandinsky and Milton Avery
• Developed his signature style of Color Field painting in the late 1940s
  • Characterized by rectangular blocks of color arranged horizontally or vertically on the canvas
  • Colors often appear to be floating or hovering, creating a sense of depth and luminosity
• Simplified his compositions over time, reducing the number of color blocks and emphasizing the relationships between colors
• Experimented with different color palettes throughout his career, from bright, vibrant hues to dark, somber tones
• Began creating large-scale murals and commissioned works in the 1950s and 1960s (Houston Chapel, Harvard University)
• His later works became increasingly dark and monochromatic, reflecting his deteriorating mental state

Key Techniques and Style

• Used large canvases to create an immersive, encompassing experience for the viewer
• Applied thin, translucent layers of paint to create a sense of depth and luminosity
• Blurred the edges between color blocks to create a soft, hazy effect
• Emphasized the relationships between colors, often using complementary or analogous color schemes
• Used a limited palette of colors in each painting, focusing on the emotional impact of specific hues
• Avoided any sense of figuration, representation, or symbolism in his work
• Created a sense of movement and vibration through the juxtaposition of colors
• Encouraged viewers to spend extended periods of time with his paintings, allowing the colors to evoke deep emotions and contemplation

The Concept of the Sublime

• The sublime refers to an aesthetic experience that evokes feelings of awe, terror, and transcendence
• Originated in the 18th century with the writings of philosophers such as Edmund Burke and Immanuel Kant
• Associated with the vastness and power of nature, as well as the limitlessness of human imagination
• Rothko sought to evoke the sublime through his Color Field paintings
  • Large-scale canvases create a sense of immensity and overwhelm the viewer
  • Colors are chosen for their emotional and spiritual resonance, evoking feelings of transcendence and contemplation
• Rothko believed that art could serve as a means of accessing higher truths and universal human experiences
• The sublime in Rothko's work is not about representation or symbolism, but about the direct, visceral experience of color and form
• Rothko's paintings invite the viewer to confront their own emotions and existential questions, leading to a sense of the sublime

Famous Works and Their Impact

• "No. 61 (Rust and Blue)" (1953) - A prime example of Rothko's Color Field style, featuring rectangular blocks of rust and blue that seem to float on the canvas
• "Orange and Yellow" (1956) - A vibrant, energetic composition that demonstrates Rothko's mastery of color relationships and the emotional power of pure hues
• The Seagram Murals (1958-1959) - A series of paintings commissioned for the Four Seasons Restaurant in New York, featuring dark, somber colors that evoke a sense of contemplation and introspection
  • Rothko ultimately withdrew from the commission, feeling that the restaurant's atmosphere was not conducive to the spiritual experience he sought to create
• The Houston Chapel (1964-1967) - A series of fourteen large-scale paintings created for a non-denominational chapel in Houston, Texas
  • The paintings feature dark, monochromatic colors that create a meditative, contemplative atmosphere
  • Considered one of Rothko's most important and powerful works, a culmination of his artistic and spiritual vision
• "Untitled (Black on Gray)" (1969-1970) - One of Rothko's final works, featuring a single black rectangle on a gray background, reflecting his increasingly dark and introspective state of mind

Rothko's Influence on Abstract Expressionism

• Rothko was a central figure in the Abstract Expressionist movement, alongside artists such as Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and Barnett Newman
• His Color Field paintings helped to establish abstraction as a legitimate and powerful form of artistic expression
• Rothko's emphasis on the emotional and spiritual power of color influenced a generation of artists
  • Painters such as Helen Frankenthaler, Morris Louis, and Kenneth Noland built upon Rothko's ideas and techniques in their own work
• Rothko's large-scale, immersive canvases set a precedent for the monumental, experiential art of the 1960s and beyond
• His exploration of the sublime and the existential resonated with the post-war zeitgeist and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world
• Rothko's work helped to shift the focus of abstract art from gesture and action to color and contemplation

Legacy and Contemporary Relevance

• Rothko's Color Field paintings continue to be celebrated and studied as masterpieces of 20th-century art
• His work has influenced countless artists across various media, from painting and sculpture to installation and digital art
• Rothko's emphasis on the emotional and spiritual power of art remains relevant in an increasingly complex and uncertain world
  • His paintings offer a space for contemplation, introspection, and the search for meaning
• The Rothko Chapel in Houston has become a pilgrimage site for art lovers and spiritual seekers alike
  • The chapel's non-denominational, inclusive atmosphere reflects Rothko's belief in the universal power of art to transcend cultural and religious boundaries
• Rothko's legacy extends beyond the art world, with his work being referenced and celebrated in literature, film, and popular culture
• The enduring power of Rothko's Color Field paintings lies in their ability to evoke deep, personal responses in viewers, inviting them to confront their own emotions and existential questions
• As the world continues to grapple with issues of identity, meaning, and spirituality, Rothko's work remains a testament to the transformative power of art and the human spirit