Lena Rivera
Jackson Pollock was an American painter and a leading exponent of Abstract Expressionism, a movement characterised by free-associative gestures in paint, often called action painting. Pollock's most famous paintings were made during the `drip period` between 1947 and 1950, where he poured or splashed liquid household paint onto a horizontal surface, using the force of his whole body to paint. Pollock's last two paintings, Scent and Search, were completed in 1955, and his last solo show occurred in November–December of that year. Search combined areas of dense, clotted pigment with viscous pourings. Pollock's works have only increased in value since his premature death in a car crash in 1956, with his painting Number 17 selling for $61.1 million in 2021.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 28 January 1912 |
| Birthplace | Cody, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Date of death | 11 August 1956 |
| Place of death | East Hampton, New York |
| Last painting | Search |
| Last exhibition | Sidney Janis Gallery in New York |
| Year of last exhibition | 1955 |
| Last year of painting | 1955 |
| Cause of death | Alcohol-related single-car collision |
| Known for | "Drip" paintings |
| Notable paintings | Number 17A, 1948; Number 5, 1948; Number 17, 1951; Number 11, 1952 (Blue Poles) |
| Sale price of Number 17A, 1948 | $200 million |
| Sale price of Number 5, 1948 | $140 million |
| Sale price of Number 17, 1951 | $61.1 million |
| Sale price of Number 11, 1952 (Blue Poles) | $2 million |
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What You'll Learn
Jackson Pollock's death and legacy
Jackson Pollock, an influential American painter, and a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement, died on August 11, 1956, at the age of 44, in an alcohol-related single-car collision. Pollock's death occurred less than a mile from his home in East Hampton, New York, when he was thrown from his vehicle.
Pollock's legacy is defined by his significant impact on the American Abstract Expressionist movement, challenging European modernism and creating a new scale, definition of surface and touch, and syntax of relationships between space, pigment, edge, and drawing. Pollock's "drip technique", also known as "action painting", involved pouring or splashing liquid household paint onto a horizontal canvas, allowing him to view and paint from all angles. This extreme form of abstraction divided critics, with some praising the immediacy of creation, while others criticised the random effects. Pollock's most famous paintings were made during the "drip period" between 1947 and 1950.
Pollock's influence extended beyond his lifetime, with his work and example having a profound influence on many subsequent art movements in the United States. He is recognised as one of the first American painters to be acknowledged during his lifetime and posthumously as a peer of 20th-century European masters of modern art. Pollock's radical paintings and dramatic persona also helped draw attention to other Abstract Expressionists, including Willem de Kooning, Arshile Gorky, and Mark Rothko.
In the years following his death, Pollock's work has been honoured with several large-scale retrospective exhibitions, including at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City in 1967, 1998, and 1999, and at The Tate in London in 1998 and 1999. Additionally, Pollock's life and work have inspired numerous biographical projects in film and literature, including the 2000 biographical film "Pollock", based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography "Jackson Pollock: An American Saga".
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'Search', Pollock's final painting
Jackson Pollock was an American painter and a leading exponent of Abstract Expressionism. He is best known for his "drip" paintings, which were created around the mid-20th century. Pollock's most famous paintings were made during the drip period between 1947 and 1950. His innovative style and technique have had a tremendous impact on the American Abstract Expressionist movement. Pollock's influence extended beyond his artistic peers, as his work continues to inspire contemporary artists such as the UK pop artist 'By Kerwin', who creates music icon portraits in a Pollock-inspired action painting style.
Pollock's life and career were tragically cut short by a car accident in 1956. In the last months of his life, Pollock struggled with prolonged inactivity and mental health issues, resulting in a sparse output of only five or six paintings in his final three years.
One of Pollock's final paintings, aptly titled "Search," was likely created about a year before his death. This painting combines dense, clotted pigments with viscous pourings, reflecting the artist's deeply conflicted state of mind. Unfortunately, I could not find the auction price for this particular painting.
Pollock's works have only increased in value over the years, with his paintings fetching staggering prices at auctions and private sales. For example, "Number 17A, 1948" sold for a record-breaking $200 million in 2015, and "Number 5, 1948" sold for $140 million in 2006. Pollock's paintings have ranged in price from as little as $15 to as much as $61,161,000, with the highest end of this range being set in 2021 when his painting "Number 17" sold for this record price at Sotheby's New York.
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Pollock's drip technique
Jackson Pollock was a major figure in the American Abstract Expressionist movement. He is best known for his unique "drip technique", which involved pouring or splashing liquid household paint onto a horizontal canvas. This enabled him to view and paint the canvas from all angles, using the force of his whole body in a frenetic dancing style. Pollock's technique was influenced by Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros, who introduced him to the use of liquid paint in 1936. Pollock's most famous paintings were created during his "drip period", from 1947 to 1950, and his work during this time is considered one of the most original bodies of work of the century.
Pollock's "drip technique" was a form of "all-over painting" and "action painting", terms coined by art critic Clement Greenberg. Pollock covered the entire canvas, creating an extreme form of abstraction that divided critics. Some praised the immediacy of the creation, while others criticised the random effects. Pollock's technique defied traditional painting conventions by abandoning the use of an upright surface and a paintbrush. Instead, he used knives, trowels, sticks, and even basting syringes as paint applicators, achieving a unique signature style.
The "drip technique" allowed Pollock to express his emotions, feelings, and mood in his artwork, showcasing the life of the painting itself. This style of painting had ties to the Surrealist movement and the subconscious, as explored by artists in the early 20th century. Pollock's work also challenged the Western tradition of using an easel and brush, setting his canvases on the floor or against a wall. This approach gave him a new dimension and freedom to view and apply paint from all directions.
Pollock's "drip technique" was influenced by his exploration of Native American culture and his interest in Mexican muralists such as José Clemente Orozco and Diego Rivera. He was also influenced by European modernism, including the work of Thomas Hart Benton, Pablo Picasso, and Joan Miró. Pollock's use of household paints instead of artist's paints was a "natural growth out of a need", and he incorporated synthetic resin-based paints called alkyd enamels into his work.
The "drip technique" had a significant impact on the art world, with Pollock becoming one of the most important figures in the 1960s. His radical paintings and dramatic persona drew attention to the Abstract Expressionist movement, influencing future artists to create with passion and break away from set boundaries. Pollock's work opened up new possibilities in American painting, competing with European modernism and creating a new scale, surface, and syntax of relationships between space, pigment, edge, and drawing.
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Pollock's influence on Abstract Expressionism
Jackson Pollock's influence on Abstract Expressionism was significant. He is often regarded as one of the most important figures in the Abstract Expressionist movement and even came to be known as the face of Abstract Expressionism. Pollock's work brought together elements of Cubism, Surrealism, and Impressionism, ultimately transcending them all.
Pollock's famous ""drip technique"" involved pouring or splashing liquid household paint onto a horizontal canvas, allowing him to view and paint from all angles. This style of painting, also known as ""action painting,"" was a form of abstraction that divided critics. Some praised the immediacy of the creation, while others criticised the random effects. Pollock's "action painting" was influenced by the Surrealist goal of creating a direct conduit from the unconscious mind to the physical gesture of the hand, resulting in a truer and freer mode of art.
Pollock's work liberated the artistic instinct, and his technique was an amplification of his senses, movements, and gestures. He turned painting into a ritualistic performance, using his entire body in the art-making process. Pollock's work introduced a new scale, a new definition of surface and touch, and a new syntax of relationships between space, pigment, edge, and drawing. His paintings displaced hierarchies with an unprecedented, powerful, and intricate self-generating structure.
Pollock's impact on the American Abstract Expressionist movement was so great that it enabled American painting to compete with European modernism. His work was influenced by European modernism, which he combined with American art forms, creating a new style of semi-abstract totemic compositions. Pollock's work also reflected his interest in Native American culture, Mexican muralists, and the history of world art, ranging from Paleolithic and Indian art to Renaissance masters like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.
Pollock's fame and the attention he brought to Abstract Expressionism helped draw attention to other artists in the movement, including Willem de Kooning, Arshile Gorky, Robert Motherwell, Barnett Newman, and Mark Rothko. Pollock's influence extended beyond his lifetime, with his work continuing to inspire future artists to create with passion and break boundaries.
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Pollock's most expensive paintings
Jackson Pollock is one of the most influential figures of the mid-20th century. His unique style, heavily influenced by Mexican muralists and Native American culture, has left an indelible mark on the art world. Pollock's abstract expressionist artworks are among the world's most expensive, with his iconic ""drip painting" technique, made famous by his use of liquid household paint, still widely replicated and experimented with today.
Number 5, 1948, is particularly noteworthy as it set a new record for the highest price ever paid for a painting when it was sold privately in May 2006, a record that stood for five years. The painting, created on fibreboard with liquid synthetic resin paints, features densely layered shades of yellow, brown, white, and grey. It measures 8 feet by 4 feet, and its unique style and impact on the art world undoubtedly contributed to its high sale price.
Another notable mention is Blue Poles (also known as Number 11, 1952), which was purchased by the Australian government for the National Gallery of Australia for $2 million in 1973. This was the highest price ever paid for a modern painting at the time, and the painting is now one of the most popular exhibits in the gallery.
While the above-mentioned paintings are some of Pollock's most expensive, it is worth noting that many of his works are in private collections and have not been sold or auctioned. These pieces would likely command astronomical prices if they ever came to market, further solidifying Pollock's place as one of the giants of modern art.
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