Unformed Figure by Jackson Pollock

The iconic drip style which is associated with Jackson Pollock is fully displayed in his Unformed Figure painting.

It presents us with sharp images, which are so vivid that they seem imprinted on your retina even after you have left the painting. As a master of Abstract Expressionism, Pollock knows how to use variations in color to excite the imagination of those who view his paintings.

Rich texture in this work draws the viewer to bold strokes of yellow complemented by rich purple. The artist has focused on both color and line in this piece. Varying depth in the application of the paint results in a pleasing marriage of darker and lighter tones.

Unformed Figure was completed in 1953. As with all of his other paintings, the process of creation involved dripping and pouring paint onto the canvas. This makes the sharp lines evident in the work even more outstanding.

The sophistication evident in paintings like his Unformed Figure display the artist's ability to be both precise and seemingly innocent at the same time.

A casual glance may make the painting seem to be the work of a child while a more careful look reveals the careful precision behind each bit of viscous paint Pollock added by moving a trowel across the canvas.

Abstract splatters and colorful arrangements of bright green may reflect the artist's inner turmoil. No one is sure how something that is unformed will turn out.

Yet, Pollock leads us to hope that this figure is in transition and will not remain without form. The bright dots of yellow which are evenly distributed throughout the paint encourage us to look forward.

Pollock's tumultuous work and style have helped to make him one of the most renowned American artists of his time. His edgy process in some ways matched his persona of an artist who was also a tough guy. He would not be pigeon holed and that helped him to etch a place for himself in history.