In the late 1940s, Abstract Expressionist painter Jackson Pollock began experimenting with a new method of working that involved dripping, flinging, and pouring paint onto Masonite panels and unstretched canvases laid flat on the floor. This process engaged his entire body, and the resulting paintings are a direct index of the antic dancing energy he expended to create them. One: Number 31, 1950, among the handful of very large paintings Pollock produced by this method, is a virtuoso showcase of his mastery of materials and technique. Former museum curator Charles Stuckey offers an in-depth exploration of Pollock and this majestic painting, one of many groundbreaking works by the artist in MoMA's collection. 48 pp.; 35 illus.

 

Each volume in the One on One series is a sustained meditation of a single work from the collection of The Museum of Modern Art. A richly illustrated and lively essay illuminates the subject in detail and situates that work within the artist’s life and career as well as within broader historical contexts. This series is an invaluable guide for exploring and interpreting some of the most beloved artworks in the Museum’s collection. View the entire series here.