Untitled from an untitled portfolio

8 August 1949

Life asks if he is the greatest living US painter

On 8 August 1949 Life published an article on Pollock under a headline asking whether he was the greatest living painter in the United States.

1950

Hans Namuth photographs and films Pollock at work

In 1950 the young photographer Hans Namuth photographed and filmed Pollock at work. Pollock had promised to start a new painting for the session but said it was already finished — then, as if realising it was not, he flung paint onto the canvas for about half an hour in an almost dancelike movement.

1950

“No. 12, 1949” at the Venice Biennale

Pollock's “No. 12, 1949”, a medium-sized drip painting, was shown in the United States Pavilion at the 1950 Venice Biennale.

after 1951

Abandons the drip style: the “black pourings”

At the peak of his fame Pollock abruptly abandoned the drip style: after 1951 his work grew darker, including a group painted in black on unprimed canvas. These “black pourings” were shown at the Betty Parsons Gallery in New York, and none of them sold.

from 7 March 1952

First Paris exhibition at Paul Facchetti's

From 7 March 1952 the first exhibition of Pollock's works of 1948–1951 in Paris and in Europe was held at Paul Facchetti's studio, arranged through the mediation of Pollock's close friend Alfonso Ossorio and the art historian Michel Tapié.

9 april 1952 – 27 juli 1952

Exhibition: 15 Americans