The Moon Woman by Jackson Pollock

The Moon Woman (1942) by Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) uses a combination of contrasting cool and warm hues. The lines of this painting are at times curving and free flowing, at other times they are harsh. Use of intense red emphasises the subject of the artwork. Rhythm is created with the different shapes used. Overall scale and proportion are achieved with the combined use of colours and shapes.

This painting could fall under a couple of styles. The first being the most obvious: Abstract. The subject in the painting has been distorted, to the extent, that at first glance the subject is not immediately visible, only on further study of the painting is the woman visible. Expressionism, because it is the artist expression of what he may be seeing, or feeling at the time. It is Nonrepresentational because it does not represent a living being or real life objects.

When I look more closely at the painting, it seems that on part of the woman’s there may be ships or fishing vessels. There are also some sort of symbols to the left of the painting, which may have meaning to the artist. The woman’s eye has a scar in shape of the moon.

Jackson Pollock

                        The Moon Woman 1942

                           Oil on canvas

                         (175.2 x 109.3 cm)

Source: Pollock, Jackson (1912-1956). The Moon Woman. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
Dec. 10 2012. <http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/collections/collection-online/show-full/piece/?search=Jackson Pollock&page=1&f=People&cr=1>