A Tale of the Tate!

The Tate Modern is a crazy amazing home for modern art in downtown London. Formerly the Bankside Power Station, it is a huge museum. It has a cavernous hallway that used to house the turbines there, and is now a rotating exhibit hall. So awesome.

This place is also a serious powerhouse of art. (See what I did there? The powerhouse thing? I crack me up!) They take care of Monets, Picassos & Hockneys (Oh My!), so many heavy hitters. It is definitely one of the most influential museums on the planet.

Gentle Reader: Holy Frijoles that sounds cool! Any Rothkos there?

Eric: Funny you should ask! There is actually a bit of a story there. The way the Tate Modern came into a few of the most prized Rothko paintings.

It’s Not a Popularity Contest

Or is it? Mark Rothko created a LOT of pieces.

Unlike the tortured artists of our history, he was quite popular during his own life time. The demand for a Rothko became increasingly higher. He had a lot of work and was selling to museums and corporations.

Exactly like the tortured artists of our history, he had some demons that he fought throughout his life. Even with the high prices he was able to ask for, and even with the level of acceptance he achieved, Rothko took his own life in the midst of his career.

Mark Rothko did tons of work. As a living modern artist, Rothko’s paintings became very popular. Not typically the case! Many times the artist isn’t even acknowledged until they die.

In his case, the money kept getting bigger. But as the money increased, so did his suspicion of the buyers. Who were these purchasers of art? Did they realize they were buying something amazing? Or were they looking for something to match the sofa? (I mean sure, they could have an amazing sofa, but I don’t think that really was where he was going here.)

Rothko kept painting…some of his best ever….And in 1958 he accepted a big time commission from Seagrams (of Seagram Whiskey Fame.)

GR: Ooooh fancy pants!

ECH: I know! I think the contract was for approximately one trillion dollars. But don’t quote me on that. You know, with conversion to today’s dollars, etc.

GR: Sure, sure, sure. A trillion…that sounds legit. (insert eyeroll here)

ECH: Whatever….Mr. Rothko had always done these giant paintings. However it was always his dream to have a space completely dedicated to a large group of his paintings.

GR: My dream is to join Cirque du Soleil. Note to self: I need to stretch more.

ECH: …sigh…Well our friends at Seagrams Whiskey Headquarters had just the space for Rothko. A prestigious Four Seasons restaurant on the ground floor.

GR: Isn’t Four Seasons kinda fancy?

ECH: Totally fancy! And this was his big chance for an all encompassing piece. A work that would embrace everyone in the room!

GR: Embrace them in what exactly?

ECH: Well that was to be determined. They hired Mark Rothko after all.