Thursday, June 19, 2014

Paintings Of Rothko And Basquiat

By Darren Hartley


Rothko paintings are abstract expressionist pieces, well known for their images featuring large and luminous color blocks. Mark Rothko is most well known for the forms, figures and great color creation he delivered in the many paintings he created.

The first abstract Rothko paintings were oriented towards social themes with expressionist and surrealist undertones. Their subjects were reflections of the influence of Max Weber, who provided Mark with first hand knowledge and enthusiasm for European modernism. Another artist who influenced Mark's work was Marc Chagall.

Often the focal points in Rothko paintings are urban scenes and landscapes. Figurative works would also turn out to be a major output for Rothko creations. The expressive side to the art of Mark was showcased by his rough application of paint. This distinctive style would become the technique for which he would be most known for during the course of his artistic career.

Basquiat paintings sucked in and carried along an often intricate and complex journey through a maze of references, which often times made little rational sense, but nonetheless, fell like they have a reason for existence. They are mesmerizing, dense and full. They enveloped everything from the inner city kids' game called skellys to Sugar Ray Robinson, Miles Davis and Da Vinci.

Taking primacy in Basquiat paintings are actual words, etched in scrawl. Colliding with iconic images of crowns and skulls, they are considered perfectly placed streams of consciousness. A patron can get lost in this collision for hours on end. They prove to be a bit less dark than some of the later works of the artist.

Patrons are taken into the mind of a prodigal genius with flashes of an early style, just by looking at Basquiat paintings. The ubiquitous trademark crown, the black background and mirrored images, boxers and skulls are ominous in these works. The key to all of Basquiat's works, numbering to more than 2,000 from the ages of 19 to 27 are found in his early drawings.




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