Elena Rossi
Jackson Pollock's Lucifer, created in 1947, is an example of the artist's distinctive action painting style. Pollock's work is characterised by dripping, pouring, and splattering paint onto a canvas laid on the floor, resulting in a dense network of paint that covers the entire surface. This approach, known as Abstract Expressionism, emphasised direct, physical contact with materials and reflected the chaotic industrialization of the postwar period. Pollock's Lucifer, with its dynamic composition and frenetic energy, is a striking example of his unique style and a departure from traditional oil painting techniques.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1947 |
| Artist | Jackson Pollock |
| Style | Abstract Expressionism, Action Painting |
| Medium | Oil and enamel on canvas |
| Technique | Dripping, pouring, and splattering paint |
| Composition | "All-over", complex, dynamic, frenetic energy and movement |
| Colours | Black, white, Yellow, Red, Orange, Green, Purple, Blue |
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What You'll Learn
Jackson Pollock's painting style
Pollock's unique approach to painting involved dripping, pouring, and splattering paint onto a canvas that was carefully tacked to the ground or floor. This technique, known as "drawing in space", allowed him to create works that were radically open and anti-narrative. By embracing spontaneity, physicality, and the subconscious, Pollock's art became a direct reflection of the creative spirit of his time.
In his 1947 painting "Lucifer", Pollock utilised a mixed technique on canvas, combining oil and enamel with aluminium paint. He started with light grey marks and then dripped various colours, including orange, black, red, yellow, green, blue, and purple, onto the canvas. These colours were flung through the air, creating a dense network of paint that covered the entire surface. Pollock also embedded small pieces of gravel into the paint to increase the texture and enhance the sense of frenetic energy and movement.
Pollock's style, as seen in "Lucifer", represents a departure from traditional methods of oil painting. He created highly spontaneous and expressive paintings that paved the way for a new era of non-representational art. His use of household paint and industrial materials, such as aluminium, further emphasised the modernity of his work.
Overall, Jackson Pollock's painting style, as exemplified in "Lucifer", is characterised by abstract expressionism, action painting, spontaneity, and a unique technique that involves dripping and splattering paint to create energetic and expressive compositions. His work has had a lasting impact on American modernism and the development of non-representational art.
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Abstract Expressionism
Jackson Pollock's Lucifer, created in 1947, is a seminal work of Abstract Expressionism. This style of painting emerged in the post-World War II era and is characterised by its emphasis on spontaneity, physicality, and the subconscious. Pollock's unique approach to this movement involved a technique known as "action painting," where he dripped, poured, and splattered paint onto a canvas that was carefully tacked to the ground. This method resulted in a dense network of paint covering the entire surface, creating an "all-over" composition.
The Abstract Expressionist movement aimed to capture the chaotic industrialization of the postwar period and reflect the artists' psyches. Pollock's action painting technique was influenced by his contemporaries, such as Franz Kline, who explored bold, gestural marks and strong, contrasting forms. This exchange of ideas within the New York School contributed to the development of Abstract Expressionism.
Pollock's Lucifer is a testament to the transformative power of artistic collaboration and the exploration of new techniques. By embracing spontaneity and physicality in his work, Pollock paved the way for a new era of non-representational art, solidifying his place as a leading figure in Abstract Expressionism and a symbol of American modernism.
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Action painting
Jackson Pollock's Lucifer is an example of the artist's distinctive action painting style. Completed in 1947, the painting measures 267.9 cm in height and 104.1 cm in width. Pollock's action painting technique involved dripping, pouring, and splattering paint onto a canvas that was carefully tacked to the ground or floor. This method of painting is known as "drawing in space," where the surrounding environment influences the placement of the paint.
In Lucifer, Pollock began with light marks in grey paint and then dripped various colours, including orange, black, red, yellow, green, blue, and purple. These colours were flung through the air, creating a dense network of paint that covered the entire canvas. Pollock also embedded small pieces of gravel into the paint, adding texture and depth to the composition. This technique of dripping and splattering paint was a deliberate exploration of the possibilities of creating a composition without the use of traditional brushes and techniques.
Pollock's action painting style was influenced by the chaotic industrialization of the immediate postwar period and the fall of the titular angel, Lucifer, from heaven. His work also drew inspiration from fellow members of the New York School, such as Franz Kline, who explored bold, gestural marks and strong, contrasting forms. Pollock's use of black enamel and aluminium paints, traditionally reserved for industrial use, further emphasised the modernity of his artwork.
Through his action paintings, Pollock aimed to express the modern age, moving away from the old forms of the Renaissance and embracing the new, such as the airplane, atom bomb, and radio. His work symbolised a new era of non-representational art, where the process of creation and the artist's gestures became the focal point, challenging traditional narratives and embracing openness and suspension.
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Pollock's artistic influences
Jackson Pollock's "Lucifer" is considered one of his earliest experiments with his method of "action painting", which involved dripping, pouring, and splattering paint onto a horizontal canvas. Pollock's technique of pouring and dripping paint is thought to be one of the origins of the term "action painting". This style of painting is also referred to as "all-over painting" since he covered the entire canvas. Pollock's work in "Lucifer" is considered a radical departure from traditional oil painting methods, signalling his maturity and independence from established artistic precedents.
- Abstract Expressionism: Pollock was a leading figure in the Abstract Expressionist movement, and his work, including "Lucifer", is considered a profound departure from traditional representational art. He embraced spontaneity, physicality, and the subconscious in his creative process, reflecting the transformative power of artistic collaboration and interchange.
- Modernism and Industrialization: Pollock's style was influenced by the chaotic industrialization of the postwar period. His use of industrial materials, such as black enamel and aluminium paints, signalled his embrace of modernity.
- Artists: Thomas Hart Benton, Pablo Picasso, and Joan Miró influenced Pollock's work. Additionally, Pollock participated in an experimental workshop led by the Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros in 1936, which likely influenced his approach to painting.
- Wife, Lee Krasner: Pollock's wife, Lee Krasner, an artist herself, played a significant role in influencing his art. Krasner's extensive knowledge and training in modern art techniques helped bring Pollock up to date with contemporary artistic trends. She is often considered to have tutored him in the principles of modernistic painting.
- Janet Sobel: Pollock's "drip" paintings were influenced by the artist Janet Sobel, who preceded him in experimenting with dripping paint.
- Non-Western Art Practices: Pollock mentioned that he painted his canvases on the floor, a practice he witnessed being employed by a Navajo sand artist at the Natural History Museum in New York in 1941, as well as by "the Oriental's."
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The painting's composition
Jackson Pollock's Lucifer, created in 1947, is a complex and dynamic composition. Pollock's distinctive approach to abstraction involved a radical departure from traditional oil painting methods. Instead, he employed a unique technique of dripping, pouring, and splattering paint directly onto a canvas that was carefully tacked to the ground. This method, known as "action painting," resulted in an "all-over" composition with a dense network of paint covering the entire surface.
Pollock began Lucifer with light marks in grey paint, gradually building up the composition by dripping various colours, including orange, black, and green. These colours were not just brushed on but flung through the air, creating a sense of spontaneity and physicality. This technique, known as "drawing in space," allowed Pollock to utilise the areas around him to influence where the paint would drop, resulting in a truly unique and unpredictable composition.
The background of Lucifer appears rough and textured, indicating the layering of paint and other materials. Pollock embedded small pieces of gravel into the wet paint to increase the texture and add to the overall tactile quality of the piece. This tactile approach emphasised direct, physical contact with his materials, marking a significant shift towards non-representational art.
Overall, the composition of Lucifer is a testament to Pollock's maturity and independence from traditional artistic precedents. By embracing spontaneity, physicality, and the subconscious, Pollock's work, including Lucifer, became a direct reflection of the creative spirit of his time, solidifying his place as a lasting symbol of American modernism.
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Frequently asked questions
Lucifer is one of Pollock's earliest examples of his "action painting" style, created in 1947.
Action painting is a form of abstract expressionism that involves a radically tactile approach, emphasising direct, physical contact with materials.
Pollock dripped, poured, flung and splattered paint onto a canvas that was carefully tacked to the floor. He also embedded small pieces of gravel into the paint to increase the texture.
Pollock used oil and enamel on canvas, with black enamel and aluminium paints, which were traditionally reserved for industrial use.
Lucifer is an all-over composition, with a dense network of paint covering the entire canvas. The colour palette consists of black and white strokes with splashes of red, yellow, orange, blue, green and purple.
