Ben Martin, TIME Magazine’s first New York Bureau staff photographer covered wars, fashion, politics, arts, business, and sports for TIME, Life, Fortune, People, and Sports Illustrated for thirty-three years. He immortalized evocative images that defined the 1960s. In a series of legendary photoshoots, Martin captured the complexity of an artist's personality, art, and surroundings. This black & white photograph was taken in 1961 and is a rare capture of Mark Rothko (1903-1970) posing with his works in his studio.
Silver gelatin photographs are revered for their rich tonal range, intricate detail, and historical significance. Crafted through a meticulous process involving manual exposure, darkroom development, and creative manipulation, these black-and-white prints offer a tangible connection to the past while providing a canvas for artistic expression. Their archival quality, tactile nature, and monochromatic focus evoke a deep emotional impact, inviting viewers to engage with the image's composition, contrast, and texture, resulting in enduring and cherished artworks.
Mark Rothko is an American artist who wielded color like a magician. His vibrant blocks of hues dance across canvases. Take "Orange and Yellow" from 1956 – a prime example of his technique. Using delicate oil washes, he conjured luminosity. Rothko once pondered, "Art is a spirit's tale," embodying quickness and stillness. Born in Latvia, in 1903, he fled to the US in 1913 to dodge persecution. Yale didn't hold his attention; New York did. There, he imbibed color-rich wisdom from Max Weber and Milton Avery's art. He dabbled in figures before diving into abstract color masses in the 1940s. By 1961 his works had been exhibited in several museums and Rothko's collectors included the Rockefeller family. He was featured in Fortune Magazine and in January 1961 sat next to Joseph Kennedy at John F. Kennedy's inaugural ball. Later in 1961, a retrospective show was held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
In 1964 Rothko's enchanted creations adorned the Rothko Chapel, a gift to art lovers by the Menil collectors. Yet, his own tale was bittersweet; battling depression, he bid farewell at 66 in 1970. Today, his magical works grace prestigious collections worldwide such as MoMA, Tate, Albright-Knox, and more.
The size of the silver gelatin print is 16 inches square. It is numbered 1/15 on the back. It is framed in a black frame measuring 26 inches high and 22 inches wide. The price includes the frame. It is wired and ready to hang. Free local Los Angeles area delivery. Affordable Continental U.S. and worldwide shipping. A certificate of authenticity issued by Kathryn Leigh Scott representing Ben Martin's Photographs is included.
Ben Martin attended Ohio University, where he majored in journalism and photography, working his way through college cooking nights as a short-order “White Castle” hamburger chef, and as a stringer-photographer for UPI Newspictures. He was married to actress Kathryn Leigh Scott (1971-1990), with whom he co-founded Pomegranate Press, a book publishing company. The two remained close friends and business partners until his death on February 10, 2017, at age 86.
Ben Martin's photographs have been exhibited in galleries throughout the US.
Artplex Gallery is pleased to offer Ben Martin's photograph through official estate-authorized editions. This edition size is only authorized for 15. Please contact us for additional photographs from Ben Martin.
