Mark Rothko, born Markus Yakovlevich Rothkowitz on September 25, 1903, in Dvinsk, Russian Empire (now Daugavpils, Latvia), was an American painter whose abstract works left an indelible mark on the art world. Rothko passed away on February 25, 1970, but his influence endures, particularly through his contributions to the Abstract Expressionist movement.

Rothko immigrated to the United States in 1913, fleeing the political turmoil and anti-Semitic climate of his native land. After settling in Portland, Oregon, he later moved to New York to study at the Art Students League. His early works were figurative and realistic, but as he matured, his style evolved into a form of abstraction that focused on emotional and spiritual expression.

Rothko’s signature style, involving large rectangles of color layered on a flat background, defied categorization. These color fields were meant to evoke an emotional response, a direct communion between the artwork and the viewer. His work was both a departure from and a culmination of traditional artistic methods, making him one of the most innovative painters of his time.

Aside from painting, Rothko was deeply interested in mythology, philosophy, and the human condition. He was a thinker as much as a painter, often incorporating complex ideas into his works. His Seagram murals, intended for the Four Seasons Restaurant but ultimately given to the Tate Modern, are a testament to his ability to create thought-provoking, immersive experiences through art.

An interesting fact about Rothko is that he was multilingual, speaking Russian, Yiddish, and English fluently. Another lesser-known detail is his brief stint as an actor in his youth, an experience that influenced his understanding of drama and tension in visual art. He was also a passionate advocate for artists' rights, fighting against the commercialization of art.