'Each artist on their own terms': why Lee Krasner was every bit the equal to husband Jackson Pollock
At a landmark exhibition at New York’s Met Museum, Mrs Pollock finally steps out of her spouse’s shadow
TL;DR
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art is hosting a dual exhibition, 'Past Continuous,' showcasing the careers of Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock.
- Curators David Breslin and Brinda Kumar aimed to present each artist's work on their own terms, acknowledging Krasner's dual role as an artist and supporter of Pollock's career.
- Gender politics of the time often placed Krasner in Pollock's shadow, despite her significant achievements, including a solo retrospective at MoMA and high market values for her work.
- The exhibition spans over 120 paintings and highlights the differences in their careers, with Pollock's meteoric rise and Krasner's steady creation over a longer period.
- Krasner and Pollock met at a pivotal New York exhibition curated by John Graham, where Krasner, socially adept, knew many artists while Pollock was more reclusive.
- They moved to Long Island together in 1945, influencing each other's work while coming from different artistic traditions.
- Krasner introduced Pollock to the work of Matisse, which significantly influenced both artists, particularly Matisse's late-career cutout works.
- The exhibition avoids direct 'compare and contrast' between the artists, focusing instead on their mutual influence and individual artistic development.
- The exhibition's title, 'Past Continuous,' reflects the artists' continuous engagement with their pasts in their lives and art.