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Mark Rothko, Pioneer in Abstract Expressionist Painting, Dies at Age 66

February 27, 1970
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Mark Rothko, an abstract expressionist painter regarded as one of the outstanding artists of his generation, died here yesterday of self-inflicted wounds at the age of 66. Mr. Rothko was reported to have been despondent because of poor health. The artist was born in Russia–his name was Marcus Rothkovitch–and immigrated to the United States with his father, a pharmacist, in 1913, settling in Portland, Ore. He attended Yale University and studied art at the New York Art Students League. His first works were exhibited here in 1929. But it wasn’t until the 1940s that he was widely recognized. He was one of the pioneers of the abstract expressionism school of art. Mr. Rothko taught art for most of his life. From 1929 to 1952 he was art teacher at the Center Academy, a Hebrew day school of the Brooklyn Jewish Center.

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