Jackson Pollock, an influential American painter and a leading figure in the abstract expressionist movement, is best known for his "drip painting" technique. His early work, however, was more representational, and he gradually moved towards abstraction over time.
In the 1930s, Pollock was influenced by Mexican muralists like David Alfaro Siqueiros and Jose Clemente Orozco, as well as by the works of Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró. During this period, he created figurative and regionalist works, often depicting scenes of everyday life.
It was in the late 1930s and early 1940s that Pollock's style began to shift. Under the influence of Surrealism and his connection to the art scene in New York, he started experimenting with abstraction. His "drip painting" technique, for which he became famous, emerged in the early 1940s. This involved dripping and pouring paint onto canvases placed on the floor, allowing the paint to create intricate and dynamic patterns.
Some notable early works that showcase Pollock's transition to abstraction include "The She-Wolf" (1943) and "Eyes in the Heat" (1946). These paintings reflect his move away from traditional forms and towards a more intuitive and expressive approach to art.
Pollock's mature style, characterized by his signature drip technique, reached its peak in the late 1940s and 1950s with iconic works such as "Number 1A, 1948" and "Autumn Rhythm" (1950). These paintings marked a significant departure from traditional notions of composition and paved the way for the development of abstract expressionism, a movement that emphasized spontaneous, gestural, and non-representational forms of painting.