In Echo Number 25 by Jackson Pollock

In Echo - Number 25 was created in 1951 by American artist Jackson Pollock (1912-1956). Pollock, a major artist of his time, was a driving force behind the abstract expressionist art movement and changed how his generation perceived modern art.

A pioneer of action painting, Pollock was renowned for his unique multi-layered drip painting style (Time magazine could not resist referring to him as Jack the Dripper).

In Echo - Number 25 is a black enamel painting on unprimed canvas. Although a strong example of Pollock's abstract work, it is a dramatic departure from the famous drip style.

It is, however, a prime example of his lesser known and often forgotten 'black pourings' enamel painting style, executed between 1951-1953.

In a unique experimentation with surreal figuration combined with abstraction Pollock uses curved pours and splatters to delineate form and flow, covering the majority of the canvas; the stark contrast of black against the oatmeal canvas capturing his energy and passion.

The black enamel has a tar-like consistency and dries with an alluring iridescence. Both the powerful use of monochrome and the variation in intensity of the black create drama and intrigue, embodying the boundless creativity of 1950s New York.

Pollock's abstract works reflects the artists who inspired and influenced him (such as Pablo Picasso and Paul Klee) as well as his experience with Jungian psychotherapy.

This particular piece was painted at the time often considered to be Pollock's peak when he was the 'darling of the art world' and before his unfortunate spell of painter's block in 1953.

Sadly, Pollock's life ended as dramatically as the abstract art he created; he died after driving under the influence of alcohol at high speed into a tree in 1956.