Rothko, Mark

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Russian-born US painter. He was a leading exponent of abstract expressionism and a pioneer, towards the end of his life, of colour-field painting. Typically, his works are canvases covered in large hazy rectangles of thin paint, the colours subtly modulated, as in Light Red over Black (1957; Tate Gallery, London).

Born in Dvinsk, Russia, he went to the USA with his parents 1913. He received his only training at New York City's Art Students League. During the 1930s he painted for the Federal Arts Project and, with Adolph Gottlieb, founded the expressionist group The Ten. During the mid-1940s he painted in a style influenced by surrealism but by the end of the decade he had evolved his distinctive manner employing flat areas of matt colour spread over large-scale canvases. These paintings strongly influenced younger painters in the USA and Britain.

Red stands for hardiness and valour. White signifies purity and innocence. Blue represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice. The latest star, representing Hawaii, was added in 1960. Effective date: 4 July 1960. >>