100th anniversary of the birth of Jackson Pollock, hero of action painting

Cody (USA) - He was at the birth of abstract expressionism. He developed his typical style after being captivated by drawings on the studio floor created by paint dripping from brushes. Jackson Pollock, perhaps the most significant American painter, plagued by depression and the demon of alcohol, created a number of works during his short life. One of them - No. 5 - became the most expensive painting ever sold. Pollock was born 100 years ago, on January 28, 1912.
According to laypeople, he "painted" in a peculiar way. He stretched the canvas on the ground and, using a technique called dripping, poured paint directly from cans or splattered it with brushes. Pollock thus created a complex network of spots, occasionally adding sand or crushed glass. He often perceived the act of painting as a happening, which was often compared to a shamanic dance. Action painting, of which Pollock is a representative, emphasizes spontaneity expressed through expressive gestures.
"I work better on the ground. I feel closer to the painting, I'm part of it, because I can walk around it, work from all four sides, and literally step into it. When I'm inside the painting, I don't realize what I'm doing. Then I need to get acquainted with it for a while to understand what I was aiming for. I'm not afraid to make changes, to destroy a certain painting, and so on, because the painting has its own life. I try to let it assert itself ..." Pollock explained in one of his interviews.
In the early 1940s, he was still influenced by European cubism. However, he eventually found himself in abstraction, with the years 1947 to 1950 considered his peak period. It was during this time that the work No. 5 was created, which was sold outside of auction in 2006 for a record 2.8 billion crowns. The new owner of the "web" measuring 240 by 120 centimeters from the collection of American producer David Geffen became Mexican financier and collector David Martinez.

Jackson Pollock: No. 5 (1948)

For most of his life, Pollock was deeply in debt. It was therefore a stroke of luck for him when he met and impressed the gallerist and patron Peggy Guggenheim. She organized his first exhibition in 1943 and also ensured a regular, albeit modest, income. For her New York apartment, she also commissioned a six-meter canvas from Pollock. The painter did not disappoint and created his first true masterpiece. At the opening, he made a truly unforgettable entrance - by urinating in the fireplace.
Another significant woman in Pollock's life was his lifelong partner Lee Krasner (1908 to 1984). The Russian-born artist temporarily resigned from her own career to support him in his experiments, helped him cope with his depression, and tried to cut him off from alcohol. Pollock had been dependent on it since youth; even a small amount awakened aggression in him. Unlike other artists, alcohol did not bring him inspiration; he could only create while sober.
He was born in the city of Cody, Wyoming, in a family with Scottish-Irish roots. He was the youngest of five brothers who grew up with their parents on a farm. Pollock was expelled from the art school in Los Angeles for "disruptive behavior" and then continued at the New York Art Students League. A significant influence on him was his acquaintance with painter and art theorist John Graham, who introduced him among other things to the culture and art of Native Americans, as well as to psychology.
In the early 1950s, Pollock fell deeper into alcoholism, which was visibly reflected in his works. His marriage also fell apart - the good-natured Krasner left him. Pollock died on August 11, 1956, in a car accident on Long Island when he lost control of his convertible while intoxicated and crashed into a tree. He was only 44 years old. His mistress was in the car with him and was seriously injured; her friend did not survive the accident either.
Pollock became the first post-war American celebrity from the world of visual arts. A successful probe into his turbulent life is the film by actor and director Ed Harris from 2000. He dedicated ten years to preparing the film, studying the material, and trying to master Pollock's painting technique. His efforts paid off - Harris was nominated for an Oscar for the lead role. Marcia Gay Harden, who portrayed his wife, won the golden statuette for the supporting role.