Mark Rothko

Mark Rothko, born Marcus Rothkowitz in 1903 in Dvinsk, Russia (now Daugavpils, Latvia), was a prominent American painter associated with the Abstract Expressionist movement. Emigrating to the United States in 1913, Rothko eventually settled in Portland, Oregon, before moving to New York City, where he became an influential figure in the post-war art scene. His work is characterized by large-scale canvases featuring luminous fields of color, which sought to evoke deep emotional responses from viewers. Rothko's impact on modern art is profound, as he redefined the possibilities of abstraction and color theory. Despite his success, Rothko struggled with depression and tragically took his own life in 1970. His legacy endures through his contributions to the development of color field painting and his influence on subsequent generations of artists.