Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Rothko And Basquiat Paintings

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.

An orientation towards social themes with expressionist and surrealist undertones was characteristic of the first Rothko paintings. The influence of Max Weber was reflected in the subjects Mark chose for his paintings. Max provided Mark with first hand knowledge and enthusiasm for European modernism. Marc Chagall was another artist who had a great influence on Mark's art work.

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.

Perfectly placed streams of consciousness colliding with iconic images of crowns and skulls, actual words, etched in scrawl, takes primacy in Basquiat paintings. Compared to some of Basquiat's works, they prove to be a bit less dark. Studying the work will find a patron getting lost in the collision for hours and hours.

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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