A book of heroic dimensions, this is the first full-length biography of one of the greatest artists of the twentieth centurya man as fascinating, difficult, and compelling as the paintings he produced. Drawing on exclusive access to Mark Rothko's personal papers and over one hundred interviews with artists, patrons, and dealers, James Breslin tells the story of a life in artthe personal costs and professional triumphs, the convergence of genius and ego, the clash of culture and commerce. Breslin offers us not only an enticing look at Rothko as a person, but delivers a lush, in-depth portrait of the New York art scene of the 1930s, 40s, and 50sthe world of Abstract Expressionism, of Pollock, Rothko, de Kooning, and Klein, which would influence artists for generations to come.
This is the Rothko biography. You won't find as extensive research into Rothko in anything else (that I've seen).
I read this hoping to find more details about his personal relationships (especially with Mell and his children). Sadly, there isn't much. Part of the blame seems to fall on Rothko, who, as Breslin portrays him, was a mostly absent father and inattentive husband. Still, I wouldn't have minded seeing these relationships explored more.
The story of Mark Rothko is very much the story of Abstract Expressionism and the rise of America art out of regionalism to "legitimacy," but it is also the story of a human being. There is more ink spilled on Rothko's relationships with painters he met perhaps a dozen times than the woman he lived with for decades. As an interesting counterpoint, consider reading Christopher Rothko's book. It's more an interpretation of Rothko's paintings, but his reads of Rothko's later works, esp. the two-color "horizon" paintings, as well as his personal anecdotes of his father, portray a radically different Rothko.
