No. 1 Lavender Mist by Jackson Pollock

Pollock's signature style of drip painting continues with this artwork from 1950

This piece of abstract art was painted in 1950 by the well known and very influential American abstract expressionist Jason Pollock. It is currently housed in The National Gallery of Art East Building in Washington, D.C.

Number 1 Lavender Mist is one of the best examples of the radical and exceptionally unique art form of drip painting, which Pollock introduced to the world in 1947.

Even though such a painting appears to happen at random and spontaneously, one can actually track the precise movement and control Pollock had in creating this piece.

Initially these drip paintings by Pollock were met with great public scrutiny and were mostly unpopular and therefore had low value in art markets.

The art world had very mixed reactions to his paintings as well and reviews were polarized. His first series of drip paintings debut at the Betty Parsons Gallery in New York City in 1948. Less than a year later Pollock appeared in an article in Life Magazine with the headline "Is he the greatest living painter in the United States?"

Pollock's work on this piece was inspired by previous efforts of dripping and splattering paint on various objects in his converted barn studio in Long Island, New York.

Pollock lived and worked at this located since 1945 and grew great artistic inspiration from his surroundings here.

He laid out a canvas on the floor of the converted barn and flung, dripped, and poured common house paint on the canvas while continually walking around the piece.

Pollock's series of drip paintings over the years revolutionized American modern art and the abstract expressionism movement. No. 1 Lavender Mist is one of the finest examples of this art style that is on display today.