The Artist's Reality: Philosophies of Art - Hardcover

Rothko, Mark

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0300102534 ISBN 13: 9780300102536

Publisher: Yale University Press, 2004

Synopsis

One of the most important artists of the twentieth century, Mark Rothko (1903-1970), created a new and impassioned form of abstract painting over the course of his career. Rothko also wrote a number of essays and critical reviews during his lifetime, adding his thoughtful, intelligent, and opinionated voice to the debates of the contemporary art world. Although the artist never published a book of his varied and complex views, his heirs indicate that he occasionally spoke of the existence of such a manuscript to friends and colleagues. Stored in a New York City warehouse since the artist's death more than thirty years ago, this extraordinary manuscript, titled The Artist's Reality, is now being published for the first time. Probably written around 1940-41, this revelatory book discusses Rothko's ideas on the modern art world, art history, myth, beauty, the challenges of being an artist in society, the true nature of "American art", and much more. The Artist's Reality also includes an introduction by Christopher Rothko, the artist's son, who describes the discovery of the manuscript and the complicated and fascinating process of bringing the manuscript to publication. The introduction is illustrated with a small selection of relevant examples of the artist's own work as well as with reproductions of pages from the actual manuscript. The Artist's Reality will be a classic text for years to come, offering insight into both the work and the artistic philosophies of this great painter.

About this title

Review:

'...a remarkable book...should be required reading for every teacher and every student of art history and philosophy of art.' -- The Art Book, November 2005

'...will fascinate everyone who has been enthralled by the power of Rothko's sublime contribution to the language of abstraction.' -- QuARTerly Magazine, Winter 2004

'The book is an enormously important art history document' -- The Sunday Times Magazine, October 17 2004

About the Author:

Mark Rothko was born in Russia and came to the United States with his family in 1913. A major figure in New York's Abstract Expressionist movement, he has been the subject of retrospectives at the Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery of Art, Washington, the Guggenheim Museum, and other major museums around the world. Christopher Rothko is a writer and psychologist and is actively involved in managing the Rothko legacy. He lives in New York City.

About this edition

• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0300102534
• ISBN 13: 9780300102536
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 176