Action Painting breaks all the rules of art
The American Jackson Pollock is one of the pioneering artists of the 20th century. As the leading exponent of Action Painting, he dripped, poured and splashed his paint onto the surface of his pictures. Pollock embraced chance as part of the creative process. His painting thereby assumed a palpable, and for the first time visible, dynamism. Action Painting marked a turning point in the history of art. The idea of stepping onto the canvas and thus quite literally into the picture, to perform the gestural act of painting, signaled a brand new departure. Pollock was the forerunner of the countless art actions, happenings and performances of subsequent generations.
ANSICHTEN no. 9 takes an in-depth look at the enigmatic painting Untitled (c. 1949),just one of many works by Jackson Pollock in the Fondation Beyeler collection. Detailed descriptions, technical data, special features, background information, and questions of interpretation all fall within the scope of this booklet.
The ANSICHTEN (‘VIEWS’) series has been created for art lovers and teachers. Packed with insights, the series allows you to explore the works in the Fondation Beyeler in greater depth.
Each ANSICHTEN volume also contains a section specifically designed for art educators. This part of the book suggests ideas for practical exercises and experiments that can be performed in the museum, in the classroom or at home.
The ANSICHTEN series published by the Fondation Beyeler is an enjoyable and entertaining way of deepening your knowledge of a work of art.