In 1951, Jackson Pollock was at the height of his career.
His drip paintings had made him one of the most famous artists in America. Pollock had accomplished something extraordinarily rare: critical and commercial success achieved in his lifetime. (Later, we’ll examine why it’s so hard for an innovative artist to achieve commercial success in their lifetime.)
Then, Pollock changed direction.
He began making what became known as his Black Pourings. They were darker and more figurative than the colorful, chaotic paintings that had made him famous. Pollock confidently entered a new creative chapter, but his audience…
