In August 1949, the largest American Life magazine asked on its pages the question: "Who is Pollock?"
An artist who has become a leader in contemporary American
abstract art? A quack whose canvases were born of a mind deformed by alcoholism? A successful financial project - the fruit of a conspiracy group of art critics? The tone of the article was alternately mocking and respectful. There seems to be no single answer today.
Jackson Pollock Biography
His entire short life seems an artistic performance, one of the main themes of which is the embodiment of the American dream. Born into a large, impoverished family, Pollock took his place on Olympus cultural life. Jackson Pollock was born on January 28, 1912 in Wyoming. He tried to enter military service, but was expelled for a fight. At military courses, he became addicted to alcohol, despite the effect of the Prohibition.
This dependence accompanied the artist all his life, influencing the twists of fate. In 1928, he began attending classes at the Arizona Graduate School of Applied Arts, but was soon expelled due to discipline problems. Entering Thomas Benton's studies, he becomes an adherent of avant-garde painting, falling under the influence of Diego Rivera and Jose Orozco. After becoming acquainted with the works of Picasso Pollock defines symbolic abstractionism as the main direction of his work.
Siqueiros and Jung
At the workshops conducted by Mexican artist Alfaro Siqueiros, he first tried various methods of applying paint: spraying and spraying. Subsequently, precisely such a technique will form the basis of the drip method, with the help of which Pollock, an artist who denied figurativeness, will create his most famous canvases.
Alcoholism by the beginning of the 40s turned for Pollock into a disease requiring treatment by psychologists. He went to the clinic with Joseph Henderson, who was a supporter of Jung’s teachings, based on the influence of the subconscious on human actions. These ideas had a noticeable impact on Pollock - most of his paintings were born at the junction of thoughtful and unconscious actions.
Two women
The acquaintance with the millionaire Peggy Guggenheim, who became an admirer of his talent and the first buyer of his creations, was the impetus for the emergence of fame, which Pollock soon reached. The artist began to be considered one of the founders of a new trend - abstract expressionism.
The course of treatment gave a temporary decrease in craving for alcohol, and beneficial changes took place in Pollock’s personal life. In 1944, he marries Lee Krasner, a faithful friend and like-minded person who tried to create acceptable conditions for creativity.
Pouring technique
Dripping (eng. Drip - drip, pour drop by drop) - so critics began to call the technique that Pollock used. The paintings were large wood-fiber sheets laid on the floor. The artist applied paint of the desired color to them in the form of drops and splashes, without touching the surface with brushes or a palette knife. Sometimes he used sand or broken glass to create the desired texture.
The process of creating compositions reminded those who could watch it, a magical dance. Some critics found it similar to the rituals of the Indians, emphasizing the true American character of painting. They recall that, while working, the artist constantly listened to jazz. The improvisational nature of this music is clearly visible in its compositions.
The principle of the artist's work was represented by a combination of two aspects: controlled - the intentional choice of the direction of movement, and uncontrolled - the shape and volume of drops. Jackson insisted on the existence of a common concept and concept of the end result, denying the chaos giving birth to painting. The names under which Pollock exhibited his paintings are important here. The artist often assigned them a serial number or indicated the date when they were finished. But there were also names that carried a clear idea: “White Light”, “Galaxy”, “Autumn Rhythm”, “Purple Fog”.
Recognition and death
Canvas Pollock began to appear at the most prestigious exhibitions, acquired by reputable museums of modern art, became the objects of serious research by specialists. But addiction to alcohol continued to be devastating. His family life was destroyed, gloomy motives became more distinct in his work.
On August 11, 1956, a car driven by Pollock while intoxicated crashed into a tree. It was a tragic accident or a deliberate step, it was not possible to find out, although one of the two companions of the artist remained alive.
After pollock
In 2006, the most expensive painting in the world, sold at an open auction, was the panel "No. 5, 1948." The author was Pollock. Paintings hunted by museums of modern art and private collectors are not the only legacy of the artist. His name has become a cult and still causes fierce debate. For some, he is a symbol of creative freedom, for others, a quack and an amateur, an embodiment of the spiritual crisis of modern civilization.
The significance of such a phenomenon as abstract expressionism, of which Pollock is considered the leader, will be discussed by each new generation of critics and spectators, but its place in the history of art is undeniable.