No. 5 (1948) by Jackson Pollock in Context
| Artist | Jackson Pollock (1912 – 1956) |
| Date Painted | 1948 |
| Medium | Oil on fiberboard panel |
| Genre | Abstract art |
| Period / Movement | Abstract Expressionism |
| Dimensions (m) | 2.4 x 1.2 |
| Series / Versions | N/A |
| Where Is It Housed? | Private Collection, New York, United States |
| What It Is Worth | Sold for $140 million on May 22, 2006 |
This article will be divided into two parts, starting with a brief contextual overview of Jackson Pollock’s No. 5 painting from 1948, which is also sometimes referred to as Number 5, and then a formal analysis that will discuss the visual aspects like the subject matter and how the art elements and principles are portrayed.
Contextual Analysis: A Brief Socio-Historical Overview
Jackson Pollock painted No. 5 in 1948, which was at the onset of his new approach to artmaking called his “Drip” paintings, which consisted of dripping paint onto a canvas. Pollock often utilized various tools like sticks and different types of paint, for example, synthetic resin-based, otherwise described as “household” paints. Jackson Pollock did some work on No. 5 after its purchase in 1949 for $1,500 by Alfonso A. Ossorio.
Why Number 5?
You might be wondering why Jackson Pollock titled his painting a number, and not a standard name. Reportedly, according to Lee Krasner, numbers were “neutral” and Pollock moved away from any ideas that may form from giving the painting a name. He sought to present the painting as it was and for the viewer to see it in its originality, without any meanings attached to it that would create possible alternative meanings.
No. 5, 1948
| No. 5, 1948 | |
|---|---|
| Artist | Jackson Pollock |
| Year | 1948 |
| Medium | Oil on fiberboard |
| Location | Private collection |
| Dimensions | 8 ft × 4 ft |
| 2.4 m × 1.2 m |
Time and time again, innovative art styles become the new mainstream. People have gone through lengths to express how they feel over a canvas or any form of media. People are very interested with the history and techniques of different artists. We have thousands of painters all over the world that graced the diverse world of art with their contributions. One famous art piece is No. 5, by Jackson Pollock that gave a whole new meaning to the Abstract Expressionism.
A Great Contribution to the Abstract Expressionist Movement
The Abstract Expressionism movement was started just right after the World War 2. This American movement was able to achieve worldwide influence. It was also the movement that placed New York City as the center of the art world. The name of this American movement came from a fusion of the German Expressionists’ self-denial and emotional intensity. The Abstract Expressionistic Movement also had an image of being anarchic, rebellious, and even nihilistic.
No. 5 and Abstract Expressionism
Jackson Pollock is considered to be one of the leading contributors of this movement. He was able to bring a whole light to the art scene by creating No. 5 in 1948 (it is also called No. 5, 1948). No. 5 became the most expensive and famous artwork that Pollock painted. This painting was also considered as the epitome of the Abstract Expressionism.
The Intricate Style in No. 5
This painting was created on an eight by four feet fiberboard. The style that Jackson Pollock used for this art work was the use of liquid paints. He decided to move away from the traditional style of using paints on canvas. No. 5 can be seen with huge amounts of yellow and brown paint drizzled on it. Pollock was inspired to create this painting out of his own emotions. He deviated from the traditional use of liquid paints.
The painting’s layout appears a nest-like and inspired different emotions in those viewing the painting. It was this intricacy and dedication that brought this art work to the top of the art scene. The use of action painting or the spontaneous dribbling, smearing, and flinging of liquid paint was the main style that Pollock used for No. 5. Pollock also wanted to bring a whole new perspective into painting. He wanted to convey through No. 5 the culmination of the artist’s emotion in his very own unconventional painting technique.
No. 5 brought a whole new influence to abstract expressionism. He was able to advance the Abstract Expressionistic movement by giving this piece a number instead of a name. He was able to bring a new effect to viewers of his art work as well. He wanted people to focus on the painting and feel what it brought to them. No. 5 is considered to be a valuable piece in the world and brought Pollock to the ranks of America’s greatest artists.
What was Jackson Pollock’s first drip painting?
The experimental theme continued late in the year of 1943, with Pollock creating what is likely his first purely dripped or poured artwork, a black and sky blue screen-print which spanned just 14.2×21.5cm and was used as a holiday card and dated with 1944 on at the bottom (Pollock’s wife, Lee Krasner, was Jewish and Pollock himself non-religious, so they opted for holiday card over Christmas card).
Possibly Jackson Pollock’s first ever fully dripped painting – a holiday card screenprint painted late 1943 (Credit: HamptonsTV YouTube)
Ironically, just before this tiny experimental poured screen-print was likely created in the fall of 1943, Pollock had not long finished what was his larger ever painting, Mural; measuring a whopping 8 feet in height and 20 feet across. This was painted as a commission for the New York hallway of his patron, the socialite Peggy Guggenheim. Pollock even had to remove an internal wall in his house to fit the rolled canvas in and be able to paint it!
Mural was a predominantly brush-painted piece that also featured some pink splattered elements and marked a significant moment in Pollock’s career, signifying the transition between surrealist abstraction over the previous years to his purely action-painted form of painting in his later years.
Jackson Pollock the action painter
From then, Pollock prolifically created his series of drip-painted pieces on a wide range of canvas sizes and dimensions, frequently varying the scale on which he was working (Pollock is said to have often strived for a scale that is “halfway state” between a mural and an easel-sized painting). Some of his most notable drip paintings are unsurprisingly those on the larger size, including Convergence (1952), measuring 237x390cm; Number 5 (1948), measuring 2.4×1.2 metres (or 8×4 feet); and Blue Poles (1952) at 212x488cm. He also, however, produced his drip painting on smaller canvases too; Lucifer is under 50 inches (127cm) in height, while Number 5, 1948 is less than 50 inches in width.
Mural (1943) and Convergence (1952)
In 1950 he also painted his first mural-sized piece since 1943’s Mural for Peggy Guggenheim, measuring 9×15 feet and titled Number 32, 1950 (unusually for Pollock, this painting consisted of one sole layer of black poured paint on the white canvas, and was regarded by himself and critics as one of his best ever pieces). He followed this up with two further giant mural efforts – One and Autumn Rhythm, spanning 9×18 feet each.Pollock’s final painting was White Light (1954), at 122x97cm.
Summary of Jackson Pollock
In its edition of August 8th, 1949, Life magazine ran a feature article about Jackson Pollock that bore this question in the headline: «Is he the greatest living painter in the United States?» Could a painter who flung paint at canvases with a stick, who poured and hurled it to create roiling vortexes of color and line, possibly be considered «great»? New York’s critics certainly thought so, and Pollock’s pre-eminence among the Abstract Expressionists has endured, cemented by the legend of his alcoholism and his early death. The famous ‘drip paintings’ that he began to produce in the late 1940s represent one of the most original bodies of work of the century. At times they could suggest the life-force in nature itself, at others they could evoke man’s entrapment — in the body, in the anxious mind, and in the newly frightening modern world.
Jackson Pollock wore many hats throughout his career
While we often associate Jackson Pollock with large, impactful ‘statement’ paintings that would dominate a wall, he did in fact create his paintings on a number of different sized canvases. For instance, while he was developing his ‘drip’ style of painting and likely getting familiar with the materials and results, he often chose more modest canvas sizes to paint on. His early (and often under-appreciated) career years, far before he had conceived the idea of throwing paint onto his surface – with his artwork focusing on landscape scenes and figurative painting – also saw him paint much smaller pieces.
Accomplishments
- Pollock’s tough and unsettled early life growing up in the American West shaped him into the bullish character he would become. Later, a series of influences came together to guide Pollock to his mature style: years spent painting realist murals in the 1930s showed him the power of painting on a large scale; Surrealism suggested ways to describe the unconscious; and Cubism guided his understanding of picture space.
- In 1939, Pollock began visiting a Jungian analyst to treat his alcoholism, and his analyst encouraged him to create drawings. These would later feed his paintings, and they shaped Pollock’s understanding of his pictures not only as outpourings of his own mind, but expressions that might stand for the terror of all modern humanity living in the shadow of nuclear war.
- Pollock’s greatness lies in developing one of the most radical abstract styles in the history of modern art, detaching line from color, redefining the categories of drawing and painting, and finding new means to describe pictorial space.
No.5, 1948 – Jackson Pollock – world’s most expensive painting
No.5, 1948, painted by Jackson Pollock, is currently the world’s most expensive painting ever sold. It was priced at $140 million in 2006, when it changed hands from one collector to another. Here’s my attempt at explaining what the buyer could have seen in Jackson Pollock’s painting that could justify the price tag.
Art Collectors and investors are always on the look out for gaining exclusive collector’s items, which could increase their prestige and also serve as an excellent investment medium. In the art field that means, an artwork that has made a significant impact on the history of art or an artwork created by a very influential artist. It is even better if the artist brought about a paradigm shift that changed the conventions of the time. Eg: da Vinci with Mona Lisa, Picasso with Cubism, Lichtenstein with Pop-Art.
Such works automatically assume an august stature which attracts art collectors and investors. There is also the economics of art that plays a role, the rarer the painting the better the investment. No.5, 1948 has all this going for it.
Pollock’s radical techniques and methods made sure that his drip series were (still is) talk of the art community nationally and internationally, with several show conducted in leading the US and Europe. The drip series established Pollock as a leading figure of new American painting. Pollock was an iconoclast and a rebel, which got him a reputation that made him infamous. This in turn was great publicity for his drip series. Pollock with his unconventional methods influenced many artists to abandon conventions of fine art and encourages more creativity and boundary-less expression. Pollock created art history with his new kind of paintings.
There’s also a mathematical theory that explains the popularity of Pollock’s drip series. Mathematicians and Scientists believe that Pollok’s drip series contains a mathematical, yet natural, concept called a fractal. It is a rough, geometric object that can be subdivided into parts, each of which looks like a reduced-size copy of the whole. In a fractal pattern, each smaller configuration is a miniature, though not necessarily identical, version of the larger pattern. Mathematicians believe this phenomenon is what attracts people to Pollock’s drip series. The fractal pattern they claim is subconsciously pleasing to the eyes.
Now here is my speculation, in addition to the above qualities, the painting was also supported by economics. All of Pollock’s paintings in the drip series (this is Pollock’s trademark) are safeguarded in museums except the No.5, 1948. The paintings hanging in museums rarely get sold which in turn creates a lack of supply in the market that the only one that can be a potential asset is priced exorbitantly. Pieces like this will not only be a good investment but also a status symbol worth exhibiting.
Sources:
http://www.jackson-pollock.com/jackson-pollock-drip.html (about Fractals)
Triva - world's most expensive paintings
| 3 paintings are works of Picasso | ||
| 2 paintings have the same model — painted by Klimt | ||
| 1 painting has a double of it, differentiated mainly by the colour, painted by van Gogh | ||
| the latest of the lot was sold this year in May 2010, for $106.5 million | ||
| 1 painting is actually not a painting at all — its screen printing by Warhol | ||
| 3 paintings have the artists’ mistress as models | ||
| 50% of the top 10 paintings were sold in 2006 |
Tags: , fractal pattern, jackson pollack, no.5, painting trivia
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Jackson Pollock: The Maverick of Modern Art – 10 Facts About Jackson Pollock
Often hailed as the quintessential figure in the Abstract Expressionist movement, Jackson Pollock has left an indelible mark on the art world. His revolutionary painting approach and commitment to his unique vision have garnered him acclaim, analysis, and admiration.
Here are ten reasons why Jackson Pollock is considered among the greats:
Pioneering Drip Technique:
Pollock famously moved away from traditional painting methods to introduce his signature drip or “action painting” technique, allowing the paint to drip from the brush or can onto the canvas below.
Emotional Intensity:
His works capture raw emotion and are often viewed as a physical manifestation of his inner feelings, offering a profound depth that draws viewers in.
Breaking Convention:
Pollock stepped away from the easel, placing his canvases on the ground. This act defied tradition and enabled him to approach his work from all angles, creating a 360-degree interaction with his piece.
Scale and Immersion:
Many of Pollock’s pieces are vast, commanding an entire room and fully immersing viewers in the art, creating an environment rather than just a visual.
Innovative Materials:
Beyond traditional paints, Pollock often employed the use of commercial-grade enamels, aluminum paint, and even objects like sand or glass, broadening the texture and appeal of his pieces.
Pushing Boundaries:
In an era where representational art dominated, Pollock’s completely abstract pieces challenged and expanded the boundaries of what was considered art.
Influencing Future Artists:
His unique style and fearless commitment to his vision paved the way for subsequent art movements and inspired countless artists to explore abstract expressionism and other forms.
Capturing Movement:
Pollock’s action paintings froze the act of creation on canvas, allowing viewers to trace his movements and feel the rhythm and energy with which he created each piece.
Personal Complexity:
Pollock’s tumultuous personal life, struggles with alcoholism, and tragic early death added layers of intrigue and analysis to his work, making him a figure of fascination and study.
Cultural Impact:
Beyond the art community, Pollock became a cultural phenomenon. His life and works have been dissected in literature, film, and academic circles, making him a household name even among those unfamiliar with the nuances of the art world.
While Pollock remains a polarizing figure, with his work alternately celebrated and critiqued, his profound impact on modern art is undeniable.
His fearless dedication to expression and innovation solidifies his status as a great artist whose influence will continue to resonate for generations.
Influences and Connections
Influences on Artist
Influenced by Artist
Artists
- Pablo Picasso
- Paul Cézanne
- Thomas Hart Benton
- José Clemente Orozco
- Joan Miró
Friends & Personal Connections
- Clement Greenberg
- Robert Motherwell
- Lee Krasner
- Barnett Newman
- Willem de Kooning
Movements & Ideas
- Mexican Muralism
- American Regionalism
- Cubism
- Surrealism
- Native American Art
Artists
- Helen Frankenthaler
- Robert Morris
- Kenneth Noland
- Franz Kline
- Yves Klein
Friends & Personal Connections
- Lee Krasner
- Philip Guston
- Peggy Guggenheim
- Ad Reinhardt
- Harold Rosenberg
Movements & Ideas
- Abstract Expressionism
- Action Painting
- Color Field Painting
- Performance Art
- Minimalism
Open Influences
Close Influences
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Made the Painting Called No. 5?
The Abstract Expressionist artist Jackson Pollock created the No. 5 painting in 1948 (also titled Number 5). It is composed of oil paints, specifically synthetic resin paints, on a fiberboard panel, which measures 2.4 x 1.2 meters.
Why Did Jackson Pollock Title His Painting No. 5?
Jackson Pollock wanted to find new ways of representation in art that literally moved beyond any figuration and into the abstract realms. Furthermore, he placed a canvas on the floor instead of its usual, and so-called traditional place, which was on an easel.
Where Is Jackson Pollock’s No. 5 Painting From 1948?
No. 5 by Jackson Pollock is housed in a private collection, reportedly in New York in the United States. It was initially bought by Alfonso A. Ossorio in 1949 for $1, 500.