Jackson Pollock: 1934-54 at MoMA a MUST SEE

The exhibition of Jackson Pollock's works at the MoMA is must see for many reasons.  First, all the work on display is culled from the MoMA's collection. The work spans the early 30's through the time period shortly before his death in 1956 caused by his drunk driving that took the life of  a young female and seriously injuring another woman.  Pollack was known as a hostile drunk and suffered from paranoia & depression. Accordingly, "Every good painter paints what he is."  Pollack was influenced by psychoanalyst Carl Jung whereupon he drew a connection between colors & shapes powers to evoke one's emotions. The vast majority of the works express a chaotic frenzy.  It's fair to conjecture Pollack's compositions emanated from a disturbed mind or one rarely at ease.  "The modern artist is working with space & time & expressing his feelings."  It's exciting to observe the evolutions in Pollacks' techniques, styles & psyche. Works from the 30's & 40's are loosely figurative.  The painting Untitled (1938-41) shows a fallen figure at the bottom of the painting beneath a carnage of skeletal remains.  Picasso had a major impact on Pollack. Note: "Mask" (1939.)  This sparked a major turning point in Pollacks' career.  "Stenographic Figure" followed in 1942 & was lauded by Mondrian when 1st shown by his major patron, Peggy Guggenheim.  In 1943, Pollack's "She Wolf" was presented in his 1st solo exhibition.  This striking painting is considered a bridge to his landmark drip paintings.  Still figuratively abstract, Pollack experimented with heavy layering of paints, found objects, meandering lines and splatters of paints.  Arguably one of his great masterpieces "One: Number 31" (1950) is one of his largest canvases.  This highlights Pollack's innovative genius.  "Each one finds his own techniques."  The collection includes lesser known engravings, lithographs and drawings.  Shortly before his tragic death, Pollack had a renewed interest in painting with brush strokes. "Easter and the Totem" (1954) is reflective of Matisse's aesthetic style.  MoMA has Pollack's last known completed painting "White Light" (1954) which in and of itself is worth seeing.