New National Gallery Exhibit Reveals Unseen Mark Rothko
When superstar artists’ work manages to penetrate the popular zeitgeist, it can have the unfortunate side effect of pigeonholing their work. The name Jackson Pollock brings to mind “drip” paintings, Andy Warhol silkscreens of soup cans, and so on.
To most art lovers, a reference to Russian-American artist Mark Rothko brings to mind large rectangular canvases with deep tones that can take on a reverent, transcendent quality. But a new exhibit at the National Gallery of Art attempts to give a fuller look at his oeuvre and put his most famous work in a broader context. “Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper” allows visitors to take a fresh look at an artist they thought they knew.
Paper Works as Mini Canvases
Giving his paper paintings their due through a dedicated exhibition seems wholly appropriate, as Rothko did not consider them inferior to his canvas works. While some artists only use paper for preliminary sketches, Rothko considered his paper creations the equal of his canvases. In their preparation — he often hung them on stretchers, with paint flowing to the edges — they can look like smaller versions of his famous canvas creations.
The more than 100 paper works in this exhibit run the length of Rothko’s career, from his early days as a struggling artist in 1930s New York to some of the last works before his tragic suicide in 1970.
The show starts with his 1930s watercolors, which seem light years away from the works of his later career. For starters, using watercolors, as opposed to oil or acrylic, seems somehow foreign. The subjects also diverge from his later work: Some of his landscapes echo the works of Cezanne in Provence, while portraits of bathing women hearken to Degas. Even though his landscapes feature frenetic brushstrokes, they, along with the portraits, also include pools of transparent watercolor that foreshadow his future work with fields of distinct color.
In the years following World War II, Rothko, whose Russian ancestry includes Jewish roots, tried to use his work to make sense of the horrors of war and the Holocaust. His paintings began including surreal motifs seemingly out of the works of Joan Miro, drawing squib lines in ink, or rubbing off lines of watercolor.
At this point, Rothko had his first successful show and began earning enough from the sale of his works to become a full-time artist. In 1961, Rothko included the work Baptismal Scene as among the first displayed in a retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art, signifying his belief that his career began in earnest in the late 1940s.
Going Beyond the Familiar
By showcasing Rothko’s lesser-known works on paper, the exhibition challenges the popular perception of the artist and encourages a deeper exploration of his artistic journey. It reveals the range and diversity of his creative output and proves that there is much more to Rothko than his iconic color field paintings.
The inclusion of sketches, studies, and small-scale works allows viewers to glimpse into Rothko’s creative process and witness the development of his ideas. It shows that even in these seemingly simple and unassuming pieces, there is a profound depth and complexity that reflects the artist’s contemplative and introspective nature.
Additionally, the exhibition sheds light on the influence of other artists on Rothko’s work. It explores how his interactions with his contemporaries, such as Clyfford Still and Adolph Gottlieb, influenced his artistic choices and pushed him to explore new directions.
A Fresh Perspective
“Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper” is a much-needed reminder that true appreciation of an artist’s work goes beyond their most famous pieces. It urges viewers to look beyond the surface and delve into the nuances and complexities of an artist’s entire body of work.
For art lovers, the exhibition provides an opportunity to rediscover Rothko and gain a deeper understanding of his artistic philosophy and creative process. It invites viewers to engage with the artist’s works on a more personal and intimate level, allowing for a more profound connection.
Ultimately, “Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper” encourages us to approach art with an open mind and a willingness to explore the lesser-known aspects of an artist’s career. It reminds us that pigeonholing artists based on their iconic works can limit our understanding and appreciation of their true artistic genius.
So, if you think you know Rothko, think again. Visit this exhibition and allow yourself to be surprised and captivated by the untold stories that lie within his paper paintings.
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