Untitled

1944/1945

Mark Rothko

Associated Names
Mark Rothko

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

The image depicts flowing lines and swirling shapes creating an abstract composition. A horizontal band of blue runs across the image. Curved and jagged forms resemble waves or mountains. Dark figures appear alongside organic shapes resembling feathers or leaves. Bold orange-red lines contrast with softer, muted tones. The arrangement of shapes and lines may evoke patterns found in nature.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    watercolor, ink, and graphite on watercolor paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of The Mark Rothko Foundation, Inc.

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 57.94 × 79.06 cm (22 13/16 × 31 1/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1986.43.217

  • Copyright

    Copyright © 2023 Kate Rothko Prizel and Christopher Rothko

More About this Artwork

Article:  How Mark Rothko Made Paintings on Paper

Mark Rothko made more than 1,000 paintings on paper. Get an inside look at his methods and materials.

Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

2003

  • Paintings and Drawings of Mark Rothko (1903-1970) from the National Gallery in Washington: The Artist's 100th Anniversay, State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, 2003-2004, no. 22.

  • Mark Rothko: A Centennial Celebration, State Museum of Art, Riga, Latvia, 2003.

2005

  • The Art of Mark Rothko: Selections from the National Gallery of Art, Washington, Hong Kong Museum of Art; Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, Seoul, 2005-2006, no. 9.

  • El arte de Mark Rothko: Selección de la Galería Nacional del Arte de Washington, Museo de arte moderno, 2005-2006, no. 10.

2013

  • Figure to Field: Mark Rothko in the 1940s, Denver Art Museum, 2013, no. 16 (in catalogue Mark Rothko: The Decisive Decade, 1940-1950, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC, 2012).

  • Mark Rothko in the 1940s: The Decisive Decade, Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, 2013-2014, no. 16 (in catalogue Mark Rothko: The Decisive Decade, 1940-1950, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC, 2012).

2023

  • Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo, 2023-2024, no repro.

Bibliography

2005

  • Fine, Ruth and Teresa Arcq. El arte de Mark Rothko: Selección de la Galería Nacional de Arte de Washington. Exh cat., Museo de Arte Moderna, Mexico City; Hong Kong Museum of Art; Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, Seoul, 2005-2006: 43, no. 10. (in the Chinese Exh. cat., no. 9)

2023

  • Greenhalgh, Adam.Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper. Exh. cat. National Gallery of Art, Washington; National Museum of Art, Architecture, and Design, Oslo, 2023-2024.

Inscriptions

verso in black crayon: MARK ROTHKO

Watermarks

Whatman 1941: HAND MADE J WHATMAN 1941 ENGLAND B

Wikidata ID

Q64595506

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