Customer Reviews

Mark Rothko, 1903-1970: Pictures as Drama

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

This short book contains terrific images of a wide range of Mark Rothko's important paintings. The text, however, is not up to the level of the illustrations. Many of the key events in Rothko's life are mentioned without sufficient background or context to understand Rothko's development as a pioneer of abstract expressionism. His immigration to Portland, his relationships with his colleagues, the conflicts he experienced in the art world, his failed marriages, his growing success, the financial dealings with his trusted advisers, and his depression and death are raised, but not dealt with in depth. There are some insightful quotations from others with analysis of Rothko's art, but this too is limited. The book is less than 100 pages, many of which are color images, and to be overly critical of these shortcomings would be unfair. On that basis, the book is highly recommended for those interested in a collection of wonderful illustrations, and an overview of this truly original artist.