About Rothko

Rating:
Summary: Ashton's cryptic writing mirrors Rothko's mystery
Review: I read the book in the eighties, when it was published-- I was attracted to the great photo of Rothko on the cover-- the book is a loving Rothko-like homage--cryptic, deep, serious-- the lack of irony is sometimes hard to take-- but adds a sense of the compelling-- I found myself reflecting upon it-- as one might reflect upon one of the paintings-- Ashton obviously loved her subject-- oh, she describes her meetings with Rothko-- in his later, financially secure period eating in an upper east side chinese restaurant-- a delight.

Rating:
Summary: The worst book about Rothko?
Review: Out of two hundred plus pages here you will find a grand total of maybe two pages' worth of remarks that strike you by their precision, sensitivity, and depth of understanding of the work - that is until you realize that these are without exception quotes from the artist himself. Ashton herself seems to have nothing to say "about Rothko". Desperate to write a "big" and "important" book, she offers empty hyperbole in place of thoughtful analysis, coated in such convoluted, meaningless, and purely academic lingo that by page five reading the book becomes a painful chore not unlike having to clean the underside of a sanitation truck with a toothbrush. Frankly, I don't see how a manual on transmission repair could offer fewer insights into Rothko's painting.

Rating:
Summary: The worst book about Rothko?
Review: Out of two hundred plus pages here you will find a grand total of maybe two pages' worth of remarks that strike you by their precision, sensitivity, and depth of understanding of the work - that is until you realize that these are without exception quotes from the artist himself. Ashton herself seems to have nothing to say "about Rothko". Desperate to write a "big" and "important" book, she offers empty hyperbole in place of thoughtful analysis, coated in such convoluted, meaningless, and purely academic lingo that by page five reading the book becomes a painful chore not unlike having to clean the underside of a sanitation truck with a toothbrush. Frankly, I don't see how a manual on transmission repair could offer fewer insights into Rothko's painting.

Rating:
Summary: I thought it was about something else!
Review: Seriously I did. The first time I saw a Rothko painting was at the SFMoMA. It covered an entire wall of the room and was the biggest thing on canvas I have ever seen. I was hoping that Dore Ashton's book would give me an insight into the meaning and style of Rothko, but rather, it seemed to be a biography of the man rather than a critism of the work. I suppose that's partially my fault since I'm sure there quite a bit of art critism books out there on Rothko...unfortunately, the historical presentation of the book isn't really all that interesting. I guess in the end, the big picture is that Rothko was deeply influenced by his Marxist experiences because that's what I got from Ashton's book. On a side note, Dore Ashton writes for Modern Painter magazine, which is actually a good magazine.

Rating:
Summary: I thought it was about something else!
Review: Seriously I did. The first time I saw a Rothko painting was at the SFMoMA. It covered an entire wall of the room and was the biggest thing on canvas I have ever seen. I was hoping that Dore Ashton's book would give me an insight into the meaning and style of Rothko, but rather, it seemed to be a biography of the man rather than a critism of the work. I suppose that's partially my fault since I'm sure there quite a bit of art critism books out there on Rothko...unfortunately, the historical presentation of the book isn't really all that interesting. I guess in the end, the big picture is that Rothko was deeply influenced by his Marxist experiences because that's what I got from Ashton's book. On a side note, Dore Ashton writes for Modern Painter magazine, which is actually a good magazine.

Rating:
Summary: definitive
Review: The definitive book on Mark Rothko's work, by one of his closest friends. Ashton gets as close as she can to a very elusive, contradictory person. The book requires the same kind of sublime imagination that Rothko's paintings - his "children," as he often called them - require. Those without soul should pass this book by.

Rating:
Summary: definitive
Review: The definitive book on Mark Rothko's work, by one of his closest friends. Ashton gets as close as she can to a very elusive, contradictory person. The book requires the same kind of sublime imagination that Rothko's paintings - his "children," as he often called them - require. Those without soul should pass this book by.

Rating:
Summary: Quality vs Quantity
Review: The most intelligent and sensitive writing on Rothko's painting and thinking. Dore Ashton continues to be the most perceptive individual representing painters and their concerns. She is an amateur in the true sense - L. amator - lover, fr. amare - to love. Would that more writers on painting shared her imagination, enthusiasm and integrity.

Rating:
Summary: Quality vs Quantity
Review: The most intelligent and sensitive writing on Rothko's painting and thinking. Dore Ashton continues to be the most perceptive individual representing painters and their concerns. She is an amateur in the true sense - L. amator - lover, fr. amare - to love. Would that more writers on painting share her imagination, enthusiasm and integrity.