FONDATION LOUIS VUITTON
Mark Rothko
FONDATION LOUIS VUITTON
Mark Rothko
Exhibition at the FONDATION LOUIS VUITTON
Mark Rothko
Mark Rothko
Exhibition at the Fondation Louis Vuitton
October 18th, 2023 to April 2nd, 2024
“I became a painter because I wanted to elevate painting to the same level of intensity as music and poetry.” – Mark Rothko (quote from the FLV).
You can find out if he succeeded in just a few days at the Fondation Louis Vuitton. A total of 115 works will be on display, making it a major retrospective.
The works come from institutions such as the National Gallery of Art in Washington, the Tate in London, the Phillips Collection in Washington, and important private collections, including that of the artist’s family.
So, this exhibition is a must-visit for all Rothko fans!
We are certainly looking forward to visiting the exhibition at the end of November. The following article will be updated with more content and many great photos!
Until then, here are the basics!
Rothko Exhibition
Tickets
ABOUT
THE EXHIBITION
The exhibition is designed chronologically, covering the artist’s entire career. It starts with his early figurative paintings and naturally progresses to his abstract works, as we know them today.
That’s why we don’t only see the color-divided, simple canvases that define Rothko, but also urban landscapes, ancient myths, and surrealist works that illustrate the horrors of war. It’s quite a mixed pot-pourri.
It was only after World War II that Rothko devoted himself entirely to abstract art. Initially, he combined even more “floating color masses”, which gradually diminished until they were limited to two central colors and a background—just as we know his works today.
Rothko was very likely manic-depressive, and this is reflected in his works from around 1950. The color palette becomes darker, but it’s still there—the vibrant color. The last series of works he created, “Black and Grey” (1969/1970), is only black and gray and is exhibited in the top room of the Fondation—so don’t miss it! Here, Rothko’s works are juxtaposed with Giacometti’s figures, creating a fascinating contrast.
The black and gray series is often considered an expression of his depression, which ultimately led to his suicide in 1970…
ABOUT
MARK ROTHKO
Mark Rothkowitz/Rothko (1903, Russian Empire – 1970, New York) immigrated to the United States at the age of 10, in August 1913, which is why he is referred to as an “American” painter. He initially lived in Portland and later studied at Yale (not finished) and New York. In 1933, he had his first solo exhibition at the Portland Museum of Art!
In 1938, he finally obtained American citizenship and changed his name to Rothko.
In 1945, he exhibited at the Peggy Guggenheim Gallery “Art of This Century” in New York. He was already an esteemed artist early on!
Then, in 1949, his career really took off, shaping him into the artist we know today. He is considered the most important representative of abstract expressionism, and he had the greatest influence on the so-called color field painting. His works consist of intermingling monochromatic color fields, which may not be understood as “art” by everyone, following the motto: “My child could do that.”
However, Rothko aimed to establish a viewer-painting relationship in which the impact of color alone created the connection, without being distracted by figurative elements.
“A picture lives by companionship, expanding and quickening in the eyes of the sensitive observer. It dies by the same token. It is therefore a risky act to send it out into the world.”, Rothko, quoted from Wikipedia. He also said, “Pictures must be miraculous.”, Rothko, quoted from Wikipedia.
Rothko suffered from manic-depression, and this is also evident in his art, primarily in the shifts in his use of color.
In 1970, Rothko committed suicide in his studio. His wife passed away a few weeks later from a heart attack—whether these events are related, we do not judge. His children, Kate and Christopher, later had disputes with the administrators of the Rothko estate, accusing them of selling many paintings far below their value.
Today, Rothko’s works can fetch top prices, ranging from $40 million to $86 million.
Text rights: © Céline Mülich, 2023
Header image: © Céline Mülich, 2022 – 2023
Exhibition image: from the Fondation Louis Vuitton website.
Once we have visited the exhibition, our images will follow.
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