The retrospective exhibition of Jackson Pollock's works by the Museum of Modern Art of New York from November 1st 1998 until February 2nd 1999 has been hailed as one of the major events of the past five years. Pollock was a legendary figure of abstract expressionism in the U.S and his death at 44 deprived the art world of a great talented artist. It was the first time in 30 years that such an exhibition has been held.
Visitors at the MOMA have been given the opportunity of seeing some 200 works, including 126 paintings, produced by this major artist. Pollock, who claimed he was nature himself, was born in 1912 and spent his youth moving from one State to another living almost like a tramp. Though he never travelled outside the U.S, he always refused to be described as purely an American painter.
This sombre character, who never was at ease with others, was also dangerously addicted to drink to such an extent that he had to undergo psychiatric treatment and spent time being cured in clinics.
After marrying Lee Krasner, who also worked as an artist, he settled in a house without heating nor electricity in Long Island away from the New York bustling life.
Pollock was certainly not a man without culture. He had been interested in all forms of art, from America and Europe, and much admired Picasso who was the greatest in his mind.
He used to mix several styles in his paintings presumably trying to invent something new between Expressionism and abstraction. In the end, he discovered dripping after 1947. From then on he was convinced he had found his way though he suffered much to produce large works as he was never satisfied about the final result.
During four years, he painted several masterpieces and then flirted with figurative painting and turned back again to American-Indian themes as if he had crashed into some kind of invisible wall. His bad drinking habits made him lose his inspiration and drove him to remain inactive during several months.
He died at 44, drunk at the wheel of his car which skidded on a road called Fire Place and ended its course into a tree.
Pollock never fitted into the mould of normal life. He was like a wild animal in a jungle who just wanted to live in harmony with painting. However, painting was in itself another jungle with no way out. His only solution was to create his own territory but when he achieved this goal he remained unsatisfied like any other man suffering from a mental disorder who cannot stick to his limits.
Pollock dripped his anguish like tears on the canvas but his eyes, once dried, soon wept again about his inability to restrain himself to what he had already achieved. His unending quest for a solution would therefore find no respite and dramatically enough only death could sort things out for him.
One cannot be sure that if he came back to life Pollock might really heave a sigh of relief on learning that he is now among the greatest artists of this century since he would not be sure to have equalled Picasso.
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