Untitled

1955

Mark Rothko

Associated Names
Mark Rothko

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

In this painting, there are two large rectangular shapes stacked on top of each other. The upper rectangle is a soft, creamy white, while the lower rectangle is a rich, deep orange-red. These rectangles are surrounded by a thin orange border that is similar to the color of the bottom rectangle. The borders of the two shapes are soft and slightly blended, and they have been painted with thick, streaky brushstrokes, creating slight variations in tone.
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Artwork overview

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

The artist [1903-1970], New York; his estate; (Marlborough Gallery, New York); purchased 1970 by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, Upperville, Virginia; gift 1992 to NGA.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1971

  • Salute to Mark Rothko, Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, 1971, no. 10, as White and Orange.

1991

  • Art for the Nation: Gifts in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1991, 410-411, color repro., as White and Orange.

2003

  • Mark Rothko: A Centennial Celebration, State Museum of Art, Riga; State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, 2003-2004, unnumbered brochures, cover repro. on St. Petersburg brochure.

2005

  • The Art of Mark Rothko: Selections from the National Gallery of Art, Washington, Museo de Arte Moderna, Mexico City; Hong Kong Museum of Art; Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, Seoul, 2005-2006, brochures, no. 19, repro.

2008

  • American Artists from the Russian Empire, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, The University of Oklahoma, Norman; The State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg; State Tretiakov Gallery, Moscow; San Diego Museum of Art, 2008-2010, no. 99, repro.

2012

  • Mark Rothko: Selections from the National Gallery of Art, Academy Art Museum, Easton, 2012, no catalogue.

2014

  • Mark Rothko: Works from the Collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, The Hague; Hangaram Art Museum, Seoul Arts Center, South Korea, 2014-2015, unnumbered catalogue, repro.

2015

  • Mark Rothko: A Retrospective, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 2015-2016, no. 32.

2017

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

Bibliography

1991

  • Grunenberg, Christoph. Mark Rothko. Washington, D.C., 1991: 14, fig. 12.

1998

  • Anfam, David. Mark Rothko: The Works on Canvas: Catalogue Raisonné. New Haven and London, 1998: no. 527, repro.

Inscriptions

upper right reverse: MARK ROTHKO / 1955

Wikidata ID

Q20194843

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