Mark Rothko, Orange, Red, Yellow, 1961
Mark Rothko, Orange, Red, Yellow, 1961
Welcome to Artobiography – your go-to source for the stories and insights behind the world's most captivating art.
Do you ever walk into an art gallery, see giant color-block paintings on the walls, and ask yourself, “What is the artist trying to say with those bold, colorful rectangles?” The paintings are usually abstract, but you still try to figure them out.
Take Mark Rothko, for example. One of his paintings, Orange, Red, Yellow, sold for a whopping $87 million at Christie’s in 2012. What makes Rothko's work so captivating?
The Artist: Mark Rothko
Mark Rothko, originally Marcus Rothkovich, emerged as a key figure in Abstract Expressionism. Born in 1903 in what is now Daugavpils, Latvia, Rothko became known for his large-scale works with rectangular color blocks.
His early years were tough. In 1913, his family immigrated to the United States to escape the oppression faced by Jews in Eastern Europe, settling in Portland, Oregon. Unfortunately, his father passed away shortly after their arrival, and Rothko had to start working at a young age to support his family. These experiences deeply affected him and later found a way into his art.
Rothko's journey through art was marked by his relentless pursuit of emotional expression. At Yale University, he felt out of place and left after two years without graduating.
He explored art on his own terms. His education under Max Weber and influences from artists like Paul Klee and Georges Rouault steered him towards a path where color became his primary mode of expression.
Rothko's work evolved over the years, but it was in the 1950s that he found his signature style – soft rectangles of color that seem to float. Influenced by mythology and philosophy, he rejected traditional subjects, such as portraits and landscapes, and instead focused on exploring the human condition, the impact of fascism, and the urban society of the post-depression era in America.
Rothko famously said,
“I’m interested only in expressing basic human emotions—tragedy, ecstasy, doom, and so on.”
Rothko believed that the purest form of art shouldn't require explanation or special knowledge to be understood. He thought people should rely on their own insights and emotions when experiencing his artwork.
Rothko wanted to create a spiritual and emotional connection with the viewer. He emphasized the importance of viewing his paintings closely rather than observing them from a distance.
Original video: How to Look at a Mark Rothko Painting
To fully understand Rothko’s art, I recommend watching the entire video on YouTube.
Rothko's beliefs extended to his political views, too. Influenced by social revolutionary ideas, he stood for artistic freedom and often rejected the commercialization of art.
As a result, he occasionally refused commissions, sales, and exhibitions that did not align with his principles.
Mark Rothko died on February 25, 1970. He took his own life by overdosing on anti-depressants and slashing his arms with a razor blade. Rothko had been suffering from depression and physical illness for some time prior to his death. He had also become resentful of the lack of respect and recognition he felt his work deserved.
The Art: Orange, Red, Yellow
Orange, Red, Yellow, painted in 1961, is a quintessential Rothko masterpiece. Its large canvas, over two meters tall and wide, is filled with radiant colors.
The painting's layered hues of orange, red, and yellow against a cooler red background evoke a warm, enveloping atmosphere. The painting is a part of Rothko's Color Field style, in which he used large areas of solid color to create a sense of depth and emotion.
Rothko's method of layering paint adds a dynamic richness to the colors, giving them an almost luminous quality. The softened edges create a sense of fluidity and movement within the painting.
The warm, bright palette stirs feelings of energy and contemplation. Rothko worked hard to get the colors and shapes just right, aiming for a balance that felt peaceful and harmonious.
The painting is large. Standing in front of it, you can feel surrounded by the colors. Rothko didn't want just to paint pictures. He wanted to create experiences where people could feel a connection to something bigger.
On Display Now
Mark Rothko’s work can currently be found at the following exhibitions:
Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper
National Gallery Of Art, Washington D.C. (Washington D.C. | District Of Columbia | USA)
Nov 19, 2023 - Mar 31, 2024Mark Rothko
Fondation Louis Vuitton (Neuilly-Sur-Seine | Paris | France)
Oct 18, 2023 - Apr 02, 2024Glory of the World: Color Field Painting (1950s to 1983)
NSU Art Museum, Fort Lauderdale Ft. (Lauderdale | Florida | USA)
Nov 21, 2023 - Jun 30, 2024The Collection From Ernst Ludwig Kirchner to Pablo Picasso, from Jackson Pollock to Meret Oppenheim
Kunstmuseum Bern (Bern | Switzerland)
Nov 06, 2023 - Dec 31, 2024Extreme Tension: Art Between Politics And Society 1945–1990
Neue Nationalgalerie (Mitte | Berlin | Germany)
Nov 18, 2023 - Sep 28, 2025
Sources:
Christopher Rothko (n.d.). The Art Section. https://www.theartsection.com/christopher-rothko
Mark Rothko (1903-1970). (n.d.). Christie’s. https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5559196
Mark Rothko: Classic Paintings. (n.d.). https://www.nga.gov/features/mark-rothko/mark-rothko-classic-paintings.html
Mark Rothko | 236 Exhibitions and Events (n.d.). MutualArt. https://www.mutualart.com/Artist/Mark-Rothko/834DF59F9D94F300/Exhibitions
Mark Rothko Paintings, bio, ideas. (n.d.). The Art Story. https://www.theartstory.org/artist/rothko-mark/
Mark Rothko Paintings, Biography & Artwork. (n.d.). https://www.markrothko.org/
Orange, Red, Yellow, 1961 by Mark Rothko. (n.d.). https://www.markrothko.org/orange-red-yellow/
The Conspiracy of Art. (2022, September 27). How to look at a Mark Rothko painting [Video]. YouTube.
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