Rothko – Hartung: Colors and Cataclysms is a study by Stanislas Walroffe of one of the most fruitful collaborations between artists. It focuses on the American painter Mark Rothko, who was born in Russia but emigrated in early childhood, and the German-born artist Hans Hartung, who settled in France later in life.

After the Second World War, the United States and Europe became leading forces in various artistic fields, including visual art. Against this backdrop, a creative partnership emerged between Rothko and Hartung, two bold and influential artists of their generation. Rothko described himself as one of the most radical American painters, while Hartung was known as an innovator and experimenter, often called “a boxer at the canvas” for his energetic approach.

Their first meeting took place in 1950, when Rothko visited Hartung’s studio. This encounter marked the beginning of a productive collaboration. The film Rothko – Hartung: Colors and Cataclysms reveals how their work led to paintings combining metaphysics and catastrophe. Although nearly the same age — Rothko was only a year older — Hartung deeply respected his American counterpart and valued the artistic lessons he received, particularly from Rothko’s experience as both a painter and teacher.

Mark Rothko died by suicide in New York in February 1970 at the age of 66. Hans Hartung later built a large villa-studio in Antibes, France, where he lived and worked. Their collaboration remains a significant phenomenon in 20th-century art, though Hartung kept many details of this relationship private.

Watch Rothko – Hartung: Colors and Cataclysms online on the MEGOGO streaming platform.