Thru the Window

1938/1939

Mark Rothko

Associated Names
Mark Rothko

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

This painting depicts a box-like space made of elongated rectangular shapes and occupied by two people and a bright red easel. The red easel is on the right, appearing to lean on one of the walls of the room, with the canvas facing the left. Behind the easel, across a square opening, is a large human figure wearing a dark blue suit over a white shirt and black tie. The person's face is the same gray shade as the wall behind them, and they appear to have short hair. One of their hands rests on the surface in front of them, and they are looking towards the left. On the left, a smaller person stands on the same surface, on the other side of the square opening. This person appears to have white skin and wear a peach-colored dress and a pale orange hat. They are looking towards the left, and the space in front of them is pale yellow. The other walls at the top, bottom, and right are painted in shades of beige and light brown.
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On View

East Building Tower Level, Gallery E615


Artwork overview

  • Medium

    oil on gesso board

  • Credit Line

    Gift of The Mark Rothko Foundation, Inc.

  • Dimensions

    overall: 25.1 x 17.5 cm (9 7/8 x 6 7/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1986.56.653

  • Copyright

    Copyright © 1998 Kate Rothko Prizel and Christopher Rothko


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

The artist [1903-1970]; his estate; transferred 1979 to The Mark Rothko Foundation, Inc., New York; gift 1986 to NGA.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2007

  • Mark Rothko, Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Rome; Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung, Munich; Hamburger Kunsthalle, 2007-2008, no. 15 (English cat.), no. 4 (German cat.), repro.

2017

  • Loan for display with permanent collection, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 2017-2018.

Bibliography

1992

  • American Paintings: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1992: 286, repro.

1998

  • Anfam, David. Mark Rothko: The Works on Canvas: Catalogue Raisonné. New Haven and London, 1998: no. 158, repro.

Inscriptions

upper left: Rothko; lower right reverse, sideways: Thru the Window / M. Rothkowitz / [crossed out] 313 E 6th

Wikidata ID

Q20193175

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