Jackson Pollock & Abstract Expressionism

Jackson Pollock was an american artist specializing in Abstract Expressionism; otherwise known as an abstract expressionist. Pollock was a very influential Artist - likely one of the most, along with Willem de kooning, in art history in the 1900s; especially abstract art history. Jackson Pollock inspired many other artists and greatly helped abstract expressionism gain recognition as its popularity rose.

Abstract expressionism is a certain kind of art style Jackson Pollock often used, along with other popular artists like William De Kooning. An abstract painting would usually include a lot of different colors in it that blend well together. It came to be during the following years of World War II when a group of artists disagreed with figuration, another form of art, but favored abstraction or abstract art. Eventually, they became known as Abstract Expressionists. Abstract Expressionism is split into two different kinds of groups. One group is known as action painters, like Jackson Pollock. The other group is known as color field painters. Two examples are shown below.

Action Painting: Color Field Painting:

The Abstract Expressionist movement developed in the 1940s and ended in the late 1960s. Some leaders in the Abstract Expressionist movement were Jackson Pollock and Willem De Kooning. The Abstract Expressionist Movement began in New York during the 1940s in the years following World War II. The purpose of it was to inspire artists to express "their emotions" rather than "the reality" through art. Later on, the group of artists became known as the Expressionists, and like the purpose of the Abstract Expressionist movement, they aimed to create expressive and emotional pieces of art through abstraction. Expressionists were heavily inspired by surrealism, which is another kind of art style that is the result of the idea of exploring the "unconscious" or the "mind."

In order to accomplish their goal, they experimented with different and new techniques to apply paint using nontraditional methods and tools like a paintbrush. An example of a nontraditional method would be splattering paint from the can onto a canvas. Creating new techniques assisted in expanding the idea of Abstract Expressionism and showed the uniqueness of the peculiar style of art. Not only was Abstract Expressionism unique, but it also transitioned us into the modern art era. Most of the art we see today is abstract and all of that came from this exact movement.

So, the impact the Abstract Expressionist movement made was that it influenced people to go outside of the "art standards" of their time and made them truly creative, giving them new ideas outside of the standards they were in before Abstract Expressionism. By art standards, I mean using paintbrushes, an easel, and a canvas to paint. These were the original tools they would use to create art pieces. But now, Abstract Expressionism and the Abstract Expressionist movement created a change in those standards.

Intro to Jackson Pollock and Abstract Expressionism

Jackson Pollock is an abstract expressionist, meaning he supports Abstract Expressionism and abstract art; he felt that art should come from the inner mind and that art can be abstract, though others, at first, may not see the full picture/meaning. Like when he expresses his depression, sobriety, etc onto his artwork. Jackson Pollock is one of the most influential figures in art history [in the 1900s]. Especially when it came to abstract expressionism and raising it's popularity. He's also one of the artists that started the Abstract Expressionist Movement, along with Willem de Kooning.

Jackson Pollock and Drip/Action-Painting

A popular way of abstract painting that was created by Jackson Pollock is action-painting; it is also known as drrp-painting. Action painting is loose, rapid, brushstrokes where you basically spontaneously brush a paintbrush with paint over a canvas to make an abstract piece of art. Drip-painting is where an artist drips paint onto a canvas to portray a certain emotion or feeling and make an abstract piece of art. Both techniques aren't planned, they're spontaneous and the outcome is not exactly planned either.

Action/Drip-painting is a very popular abstract method of creating art. It allows for artists to express themselves and what they're feeling at the moment instead of being restricted by needing a clear, certain outcome (which is what makes it appealing to other artists). With action and drip-painting, more and more artists and people are expose to abstract expressionism and abstract art, causing the development and recognition of abstract expressionism to increase.

For example, a very popular action painting of Jackson Pollock is Convergence. It was made in 1952. As you can see from the picture, it looks very random, unorganized, and as if it has no deeper meaning, but that's why it's called action painting; you paint at that specific moment without imagining a clear, visually appealing outcome, just focus on your inner mind and emotions.

Jackson Pollock and his Overall Influence on Abstract Expressionism

When it comes to Modern Art, it is overall very restricted and limited. Not very many people are open-minded when it comes to what is art and what is not art. Abstract Expressionism and Abstract Art is one way of art that not many people are fond of. Some people even say that Abstract Art has no deeper meaning and that it is just scribbles and all. Most people want Modern Art to be a clear, visually appealing image; which is a big reason as to why Abstract Art isn't looked at as modern art. However, with the help of Jackson Pollock and his abstract expressionism artworks, he is able to break the limits on modern art and allow for artists and people to see the full potential of abstract expressionism.

Jackson Pollock, though faced with many critics and hateful comments that his art is something anyone can do, pushed through and still continued to encourage new ways of art, especially Abstract Art/Expressionism. Pollock knew that abstract art can be considered art as it comes from the inner heart and is trying to show/express the deeper feelings and chaos in one's mind.

Jackson Pollock influenced many other artists to commit to - or at least try - abstract expressionism/art as it allows for the person to create art without knowing the outcome. Even after his death, Jackson Pollock continued pushing the limits on modern art as his artworks were able to still influence many artists to play around with art to try and create a new way of modern art. Because of him never giving up on creating abstract, expressive, artworks, Abstract Expressionism was able to gain more recognition as Modern Art and the possibilities of what art can be - or just art in general - was expanded. More and more people around the world started acknowledging that abstract art/expressionism is a type of modern art, you just have to look at the deeper emotions and meanings in the artwork.

Enchanted Forest

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