Quote by Mark Tobey

This book provides an overview of the career of Mark Tobey (1890–1976), an American artist whose distinctive style combined elements of calligraphy, mysticism, and abstraction. Tobey is best known for his technique of 'white writing,' a dense, all-over composition of pale, calligraphic lines on dark backgrounds, which he developed in the 1930s and 1940s. The text explores his early influences, including his conversion to the Baháʼí Faith and his extensive travels in Asia and Europe, which shaped his unique approach to painting. It also examines his role as a precursor to the Abstract Expressionist movement, despite his relative isolation in Seattle, and his lasting impact on modern art. The book includes reproductions of key works and contextualizes Tobey's contributions within the broader history of 20th-century American art. more