| American artist, one of the most famous representatives of abstract expressionism of the 1950s Date of Birth: 28.12.1912 Country: USA |
Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) was born in Cody, Wyoming, into a ranching family. His early artistic education included studies at the Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles and mentorship under Thomas Hart Benton, a prominent American regionalist. Benton's influence is evident in Pollock's early figurative works such as "Night Pasture" (1936).
In the mid-1930s, Pollock began to explore European avant-garde artists such as Paul Klee, Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, and Max Ernst. Ernst's "drip technique" particularly captivated him, inspiring Pollock to gradually move away from representational painting.
In the 1940s, Pollock developed his signature "action painting" style, where he placed the canvas on the floor and dripped or poured paint onto it. He used sticks, knives, and other tools to manipulate the paint, creating dense, interwoven lines. Pollock further explored this technique in works such as "Cathedral" (1947) and "Number 1A: Royal Red and Blue" (1949).
Pollock gained international acclaim in the 1950s, but his personal life was plagued by alcoholism. His paintings began to feature only black paint, and he stripped them of titles, believing that "the viewer should see only what is in the painting, not what it is called."
In his final years, Pollock's mental state deteriorated, and he experienced multiple hospitalizations. After a tumultuous affair, his wife, Lee Krasner, left him. In 1956, Pollock died in an automobile accident at the age of 44.
Pollock's abstract expressionist paintings continue to captivate audiences worldwide. His innovative use of the drip technique and his belief in the direct transfer of emotions onto canvas have profoundly influenced generations of artists. Pollock's legacy as one of the most influential American artists of the 20th century remains undisputed.