Pasiphae, an expressionist painting created by Jackson Pollock around 1943, is considered to be his largest mythological work from the mid-1940s. The artwork was painted in oil on canvas, and it showcases his signature technique of gradually building up layers of paint using thin washes of color and dramatic linear accents.
The painting features a complex field of arcane symbols and free-form abstraction weaved together with figures from Greek mythology. This approach was influenced by Surrealist practice’s automatism while showcasing Pollock’s unique interpretation. Pasiphae hints at influences from artists like Klee, Picasso, and Kandinsky as it marks Pollock’s transition between his easel paintings and signature drip canvases.
Jackson Pollock was known for breaking traditional conventions in artistry by employing experimental techniques in abstract expressionism. With Pasiphae, he sought to create a new visual language that would impact the viewer beyond their understanding. Overall, this painting is an extraordinary synthesis of techniques employed by Jackson Pollock during the peak years of abstract expressionism movement in America.
