Friday, February 19, 2010

A Rothko Room

I wrote here about rooms which evoke paintings.  There is a whole separate galaxy of rooms which evoke the primary blocks of colour Mark Rothko used in his work.   And the combination of colours he used was then really unusual.  Here is a great example.



(via Plush Palate)



White Center (1950)



I really love pink and orange together.  There is something tropical and devil may care about this combination.   It clashes but who cares? 

Incidentally, the above painting sold at auction in May 2007 for $72.87 million. This was more than triple the previous highest price paid for a Rothko.  It was speculated that the high price may have in part been driven by the paintings provenance, as it came from the collection of David and Peggy Rockefeller.

Mark Rothko was born in Russia in 1903. He studied at Yale and the New York School of Design.  He committed suicide in 1970. 

To me his paintings appear to be the product of someone with a sunny outlook on life.  Obviously that was not necessarily so.  

However, he was prolific and many of his works are in public, not super yacht owning billionaire's, hands, so we can all enjoy them for 100s of years to come. 


7 comments:

Cath @ chunkychooky said...

yes, what is it about that pink and orange combination... it is so vibrant and bringht its almost offensive yet... we are often drawn to it...i still don't know if I like it when I see it ... I am confused by it and I don't know if its in a good way or not...

Dumbwit Tellher said...

Jane I'm with you, this painting appeals to me very much. So sunny & bright, and so very cheerful. Such a sad ending to an obvious talent. Thanks for intro to Rothko.

Happy nearly weekend to you Jane!!

Amanda (Small Acorns) said...

I'm with you Jane. Pink & orange is one of my favourite combinations. That painting is amazing. I love that I always learn something from your blog. And how fantastic that your speakers were on Design Sponge! You realise that they can never leave now!

Mise said...

I'd have that painting in my house, but, because I'm shallow, I'd rather have the room depicted in your first image, which is one that caused me a serious fit of yearning when i first saw it and realised I'd done a room in those same colours but theirs was nicer. After all my efforts. No wonder I'm grouchy.

Laura said...

Jane you must look at the Comme de Garcons sweater on Far Fetch right now! Orange and pink galore...

Julie@beingRUBY said...

HI Jane
Well I love that first image.. the colours always sing to me.. Very happy fresh.. all's right with the world.. room... In fact I think pink + orange is far more lovely than orange alone...

I do love the colours in the painting also. but cannot understand how this art sells for the prices it does.. sad about the artist.

Well I came over looking for your etsy shop!! and then DUH! hahahahaha... thanks...you're too kind! xx Julie

Lorna said...

Oooh, I like the pink and orange together. And since they are in the same area of the colour wheel, theoretically, they do go together :) Like all the colours of those cushions too,.

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