Overview

A recently discovered book manuscript by the celebrated artist Mark Rothko offering a landmark discussion of his views on topics ranging from the Renaissance to contemporary art, criticism, and the role of art and artists in society 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 alsoincludes 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 willbe a classic text for years to come, offering insight into both the work and the artistic philosophies of this great painter.

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9780300115857

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Reviews

The book broaches a poetics of space that would finally place Rothko's art among the more uncommon visual achievements of the 20th Century. -David Anfam, Art Newspaper A deceptively slender volume. . . . Reflects the author's intense intellectual curiosity and ambition. -Phoebe Hoban, New York Times It is unusual to find an artist with such eloquence in words, and this voice from the past, especially from the pioneer of so influential an artistic movement is a rare find. -Jackie Wullschlager, Financial Times The rediscovered book manuscript . . . adds an important document to the literature of modern American art. -Kenneth Baker, San Francisco Chronicle The book is an enormously important art history document because, oddly, it is unsurprising. It confirms what the best critics have always seen in Rothko's work: the desire to go beyond the historical moment, beyond the accidental detail, beyond nation or culture, even the self, to arrive at a transcendent and universal experience, to arrive at, as he puts it, the myth. -Bryan Appleyard, Sunday Times Magazine (UK) A remarkable book. . . . It should be required reading for every teacher and every student of art history and philosophy of art. -Patricia Railing, The Art Book Rothko's book is fascinating . . . captur[ing] a moment of intense perception into the nature of art by one of its chief practitioners. -Royal Academy Magazine 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. -Antiques Magazine

It is unusual to find an artist with such eloquence in words, and this voice from the past, especially from the pioneer of so influential an artistic movement is a rare find. -Jackie Wullschlager, Financial Times The rediscovered book manuscript . . . adds an important document to the literature of modern American art. -Kenneth Baker, San Francisco Chronicle The book is an enormously important art history document because, oddly, it is unsurprising. It confirms what the best critics have always seen in Rothko's work: the desire to go beyond the historical moment, beyond the accidental detail, beyond nation or culture, even the self, to arrive at a transcendent and universal experience, to arrive at, as he puts it, the myth. -Bryan Appleyard, Sunday Times Magazine The book broaches a poetics of space that would finally place Rothko's art among the more uncommon visual achievements of the 20th Century. -David Anfam, The Art Newspaper A deceptively slender volume. . . . Reflects the author's intense intellectual curiosity and ambition. -Phoebe Hoban, New York Times . . . a remarkable book . . . it should be required reading for every teacher and every student of art history and philosophy of art. -The Art Book Rothko's book is fascinating . . . captur[ing] a moment of intense perception into the nature of art by one of its chief practitioners. -The Royal Academy Magazine 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. -Antiques Magazine

“The book broaches a poetics of space that would finally place Rothko’s art among the more uncommon visual achievements of the 20th Century.”—David Anfam, Art Newspaper “A deceptively slender volume. . . . Reflects the author’s intense intellectual curiosity and ambition.”—Phoebe Hoban, New York Times “It is unusual to find an artist with such eloquence in words, and this voice from the past, especially from the pioneer of so influential an artistic movement is a rare find.”—Jackie Wullschlager, Financial Times “The rediscovered book manuscript . . . adds an important document to the literature of modern American art.”—Kenneth Baker, San Francisco Chronicle “The book is an enormously important art history document because, oddly, it is unsurprising. It confirms what the best critics have always seen in Rothko’s work: the desire to go beyond the historical moment, beyond the accidental detail, beyond nation or culture, even the self, to arrive at a transcendent and universal experience, to arrive at, as he puts it, the myth.”—Bryan Appleyard, Sunday Times Magazine (UK) “A remarkable book. . . . It should be required reading for every teacher and every student of art history and philosophy of art.”—Patricia Railing, The Art Book “Rothko’s book is fascinating . . . captur[ing] a moment of intense perception into the nature of art by one of its chief practitioners.”—Royal Academy Magazine “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.”—Antiques Magazine

an enormously important art history document Bryan Appleyard, The Sunday Times [Rothko's] recently discovered The Artist's Reality does not disappoint. Written around 1940, it gives full expression to his grandly tragic worldview James Hall, The Independent a tract that is central to the art of the twentieth century... captures a moment of intense perception into the nature of art by one of its chief practitioners. A.C. Grayling, R.A. Magazine

Author Information

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.

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