Mark Rothko (1903-1970) preeminent American painter is closely identified with Abstract Expressionist movement of the mid twentieth century. During his career that spanned for about 5 decades he had gone through surrealist period and was intensely involved with abstract expressionist movement. By the end of the 1940s he developed his signature style that is currently referred to as Classic Rothko: the big flat surfaces of magnificent color. The immense size of painted canvas separates viewer from the surrounding reality throwing them into overwhelming abstract of emotions.
Rothko rejected forms and symbolism at this period, painting purely only frameless, soft, hovering blocks of transparent color. At the beginning of his classic period his colors are acid, developing warmer colors over years and by the end of his life the colors become darker, almost only black reflecting his deep depression, which was the reason of his suicide. (Adams, 955). Rothko possessed the genius of expressing emotion and thoughts in color; he is able to force a bystander to catch his verve, to see the world through his eyes.
Essence of Rothko’s works is his beliefs, and his rather mysterious and highly spiritual views
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