Figures on a Beach

c. 1930

Mark Rothko

Associated Names
Mark Rothko

Artist, American, born Russia (now Latvia), 1903 - 1970

This is a painting of a beach scene with abstract shapes and colors. The painting shows a blend of figures and structures using broad brushstrokes and contrasting hues, creating an impression of a beach environment. Dominant elements in the artwork are vibrant colors like blues, reds, and pinks - these are loosely defined in the center, surrounded by muted brown tones representing the sand. Above, the sky is a soft, washed-out blue with hints of white suggesting clouds. Shapes in the foreground suggest lounging forms, possibly representing beach umbrellas or patterned swimwear, shaded in pastel stripes. The painting portrays an energetic and lively impressionistic scene. This is in the style of a mid-20th-century modernist artist known for their abstract expressionist works.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gouache and watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of The Mark Rothko Foundation, Inc.

  • Dimensions

    overall: 31 x 39.5 cm (12 3/16 x 15 9/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1986.43.199

  • Copyright

    Copyright © 2005 Kate Rothko Prizel and Christopher Rothko


Artwork history & notes

Inscriptions

lower right in white gouache: MRothko

Wikidata ID

Q64595452

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