Untitled

1945

Mark Rothko

Associated Names
Mark Rothko

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

The image shows swirling lines and shapes overlapping in an abstract composition. Circular forms resembling musical notes or a violin's body are present. The colors are bright orange and muted browns. Thin black lines and angles suggest strings and a guitar's bridge. A rectangle in the upper left corner adds to the abstract theme. The overall painting conveys harmony and musicality through its fluid shapes and lines.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    oil on canvas

  • Credit Line

    Gift of The Mark Rothko Foundation, Inc.

  • Dimensions

    overall: 65 x 49.9 cm (25 9/16 x 19 5/8 in.)
    framed: 74.3 x 59.5 x 6.8 cm (29 1/4 x 23 7/16 x 2 11/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1986.43.86

  • Copyright

    Copyright © 1998 Kate Rothko Prizel and Christopher Rothko

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

The artist [1903-1970]; his estate; consigned 1970 to (Marlborough Gallery, Inc., New York); transferred 1977 back to the artist's estate;[1] transferred 1979 to The Mark Rothko Foundation, Inc., New York; gift 1986 to NGA.
[1] For a detailed discussion of the transactions surrounding the Rothko estate see Lee Seldes, Legacy of Mark Rothko, New York, 1978.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1992

  • American Paintings: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1992: 299, repro.

1998

  • Anfam, David. Mark Rothko: The Works on Canvas: Catalogue Raisonné. New Haven and London, 1998: no. 280, repro.

Inscriptions

upper center reverse: MARK ROTHKO

Wikidata ID

Q20193744

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