The artwork titled “Number 1A, 1948” was created by the influential artist Jackson Pollock in the year 1948. This significant piece is an oil on canvas and exemplifies the technique of action painting, a style that is characteristic of the Abstract Expressionist movement. The artwork’s substantial dimensions are 68 inches by 8 feet 8 inches, and it currently resides in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) located in New York City, New York, United States.
The artwork showcases a complex constellation of colors and forms sprawling across the canvas, engaging the viewer with its dynamic structure and the evidence of the artist’s physical interaction with the medium. Pollock employed a technique where he dripped, flung, and splattered paint onto the canvas, which was often laid flat on the ground, allowing him to approach it from any direction. This method defies traditional notions of painting, requiring the viewer to focus on the pure visual phenomena rather than seeking representational elements.
Irregular lines, swirls, and splashes of paint dominate the composition, creating a web-like appearance that suggests depth and motion. The various hues of paint are interlaced and overlap, generating a sense of rhythm and energy that appears spontaneous yet intentional. Overall, “Number 1A, 1948” is a testament to Pollock’s innovative techniques and his significant role in the development of the abstract expressionist genre, which aimed to express the subconscious through a direct and impulsive application of paint.
