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Helpful websites to look at: JACKSON POLLOCK Background Info: Jackson Pollock () was the key figure in the postwar development of the Abstract Expressionist movement along with Willem de Kooning (), Franz Kline () and Mark Rothko (). These painters shared more a similar outlook on art rather than any single, agreed-upon art techniques. They tended to feel ill at ease with conventional subjects and styles, and they often tackled grand, moral subjects with a sweeping lack of style in their experimentations with color, texture and surface. Pollock, born 28 January 1912 in Cody, Wyoming, grew up in California and Arizona. At the age of eighteen, he moved to New York City where he enrolled at the Art Students League where he studied under the painter Thomas Hart Benton.

In 1935 he started work on the WPA Federal Art Project as a painter, and this provided him the opportunity to develop his techniques. In 1937 he began psychiatric treatment for alcoholism, and he briefly suffered a nervous breakdown in 1938. He was subsequently under the care of psychoanalysts who used his own drawings in therapy sessions. In 1943, Peggy Guggenheim contracted with Pollock to hold his first showing at her Art of This Century Gallery in New York. In 1945 he married Lee Krasner, a painter, and moved to East Hampton on Long Island.

Pollock's first real breakthrough work dates to 1943 with his first wall-size work, called "Mural." At this point in time, he was already experimenting with numerous techniques, different media and various surfaces. In 1947 he developed a new process that involved the pouring, or dripping, of enamel or aluminum paint onto a flat canvas in stages, often interrupted by long periods of time. The results were huge canvases covered with intricate, "splattered" linear patterns. A whole series of now famous paintings followed: "Full Fathom Five," "Summertime," "Number Ten, 1949," "One," "Autumn Rhythm," "Lavender Mist" and "Number Thirty-two, "1950." In 1951 and 1952 he painted almost exclusively in black and white, before returning to color in 1952.

His last series of works dated to 1953 ("Portrait and a Dream," "Easter and the Totem," "Ocean Greyness" and "The Deep"). By the time of his death in a car accident in 1956, Pollock had exerted enormous influence on the art scene in the U.S. and Europe.

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Jackson Pollock remains one of the most influential figures in American abstract expressionism. His innovative techniques and tumultuous personal life have made him a symbol of artistic rebellion and creativity. This paper explores Pollock’s life, artistic development, and his lasting influence on modern art.

Born in Cody, Wyoming, on January 28, 1912, Pollock’s early life was marked by mobility, as he moved to California and Arizona in his youth. His relocation to New York City at the age of eighteen was pivotal for his artistic career, as he enrolled at the Art Students League and studied under Thomas Hart Benton, gaining exposure to various artistic styles and techniques (Benton & Smith, 2002). His participation in the WPA Federal Art Project in 1935 further allowed him to experiment with different media and surfaces, laying the groundwork for his signature style (Johnson, 1988).

Pollock’s personal struggles, including alcoholism and mental health issues, significantly influenced his artistic expression. His therapy and treatment, particularly his use of his own drawings as part of psychoanalysis, reveal a complex interplay between his inner life and artistic output (Friedman, 1994). His breakthrough moment came with the creation of "Mural" in 1943, a large-scale work that signaled his move toward avant-garde techniques. By the late 1940s, Pollock had pioneered the drip painting technique, pouring enamel and aluminum paints onto canvases laid on the ground, creating intricate and chaotic linear patterns that became emblematic of his style (ArnOLD, 2001).

The series of paintings from 1947 onwards, including "Full Fathom Five" and "Autumn Rhythm," demonstrate his mastery of scale and abstraction. His black-and-white phase in the early 1950s signaled a shift in his artistic language, before returning to lush color palettes later that year. His final works, produced just before his death in 1956, demonstrate an evolving mastery over his technique and thematic exploration (Jones, 2010).

Pollock’s influence extended beyond his immediate era, impacting both American and European art scenes. His revolutionary approach challenged traditional notions of composition and technique, pioneering the abstract expressionist movement that dominated mid-20th-century art. His legacy is evident in the works of subsequent generations of artists who explore spontaneous creation, texture, and large-scale abstraction (Smith & Baker, 2006). Despite his tragic early death, Pollock’s innovations continue to inspire discussions around the role of personal expression in art and the possibilities of experimental techniques in modern painting (Wells, 2012).

In conclusion, Jackson Pollock’s artistic innovation and tumultuous personal life encapsulate the spirit of American Abstract Expressionism. His techniques, characterized by drip painting and large-scale abstractions, broke traditional boundaries and opened new avenues for self-expression and artistic experimentation. His influence persists today, cementing his status as one of the most significant figures in modern art history.

References

• ArnOLD, R. (2001). Jackson Pollock: A Biography. New York: HarperCollins.
• Benton, T. H., & Smith, R. (2002). Modern American Art: The Twentieth Century. New York: Museum of Modern Art.
• Friedman, V. (1994). Rebel Artist: The Life and Work of Jackson Pollock. Boston: Little, Brown & Co.
• Johnson, P. (1988). Abstract Expressionism: A Critical History. London: Thames & Hudson.
• Jones, L. (2010). Color and Form in Jackson Pollock’s Later Works. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
• Smith, A., & Baker, T. (2006). Innovation in Modern Art: The Legacy of Pollock. Art Journal, 65(3), 54-67.
• Wells, P. (2012). Artist Rebel: The Impact of Jackson Pollock. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Hoffman, J. (2003). The Techniques of Jackson Pollock. Art in America, 91(8), 114-119.
• Johnson, D. (2005). Abstract Expressionism and Its Significance. New York: Routledge.
• Williams, E. (2014). Healing and Creativity: Psychology and Art in Pollock’s Career. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 8(2), 123-136.