Autumn Rhythm (No. 30), 1950, oil on canvas, 267 x 526 cm
Right off the bat, the color chosen stands out great to the viewer’s eye. There are no “random” colors to strive my attention else where, but it just simply allows my eyes to follow the great details encompassed in the piece. Jackson Pollock the artist of the piece used the drip technique that can also be said something Pollock introduced to the world. Pollock was an American artist, who was known the abstract expressionist movement. The abstract expressionist movement allowed the new era of artist to introduce a new technique that was a form of “accidental” art or even art that has no intended meaning.
I saw this particular piece at the "Abstract Expressionist New York" exhibit in The Museum of Modern Art. All I can think about is how large of a piece it was. My eyes were following every drip till it was lost in the mazes of other drips. I can feel the uncomfortable position Pollock may have been in to create such apiece based solely on dripping painting. He could have stepped on the already dripped paint on the canvas because it would have unwanted marks on it, but again in abstract art is there such thing as “unwanted” marks? I do know Pollock would have to move his entire body to create such a large piece and would take a lot of time and paint. The techniques that were being used by Pollock were considered unorthodox during that time in the art world. (Some still consider abstract art as not actually art) While just looking at the piece, I can see that Pollock dripped paint at some spots, while on others he might have poured large amounts of paint and used other objects to create such streak. Through my research it states, “The artist also used sticks, trowels, knives—in short, anything but the traditional painter's implements—to build up dense, lyrical compositions comprised of intricate skeins of line.”
The color of this abstract piece is remarkable because it gives the effect of how perfectly each color is being used the particular area, however none of the marks were intentional. There is a flow of the colors, black, beige, white and brown. The white tends to have a beautiful effect on the large “mess” but black is the color that controls the piece. It seems as though black is the one that is mainly on the piece and it perceives the message of boldness. The black is very strong and looks as though it is holding the connection between all the lines and colors.
Pollock states, “I can control the flow of paint: there is no accident.” From this quote I had many different interpretations and phases. First I questioned how could someone control the paint if it is strictly being splatters on the floor. After careful consideration, I analyses that Pollock thought he was creating a abstract work, he was using his body and movement to allow the paint to move where he wanted to. Thought his drips and splatters did not look intentional, they were very much placed where he wanted them. This brought up the question of accident and control. Many would consider Pollock’s works as accidents, but however thought each drip and placement of paint is not controlled, it certainly isn’t accidental. What makes Pollock such a great artist is his ability to combine accident and control and make such a beautiful piece.
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