Abstraction

c. 1944/1945

Mark Rothko

Associated Names
Mark Rothko

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

The image contains curved lines and circular shapes converging towards the center with a vertical streak. The composition evokes familiar objects such as a tree trunk or flowing river. Earthy tones and diffused colors surround the central section. Bright accents and shadowy figures are interspersed throughout the canvas.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    watercolor, brush and black ink, and gouache on wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of The Mark Rothko Foundation, Inc.

  • Dimensions

    overall: 67.8 x 51.3 cm (26 11/16 x 20 3/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1986.43.225

  • Copyright

    Copyright © 2005 Kate Rothko Prizel and Christopher Rothko

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Estate of the artist, 1970; Marlborough Gallery, Inc., New York, 1970; Estate of the artist, 1977; The Mark Rothko Foundation, Inc., New York, 1979; gift to the NGA, 1986.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2026

  • Rothko in Florence, Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, Florence, 2026, cat. no. 14, repro.

Bibliography

1986

  • Blinken, Donald, et al. Eliminating the Obstacles Between the Painter and the Observer: The Mark Rothko Foundation. New York, 1986: 45.

2026

  • Geuna, Elena, and Rothko, Christopher, editors. Rothko: In Florence. Exh. cat. Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, Florence, 2026: 76, cat. no. 14.

Inscriptions

across bottom verso in black crayon: MARK ROTHKO

Watermarks

Whatman 1943: MAN 1943 ENGLAND

Wikidata ID

Q64595516

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