Why Forgers Can't Stop Copying This Legendary Painter

In the high-stakes world of art forgery, one name stands above the rest: Jackson Pollock.

Last month, I attended a class at Sotheby's Institute of Art, where I learned a surprising fact. Jackson Pollock is one of the most forged artists of all time and the most forged artist of the postwar era. A guest speaker, a chemist who authenticates artworks, shared that she is constantly presented with new "undiscovered" Pollock pieces for analysis. 

One report estimates that as of 2019, there were 350 known unauthenticated works by Pollock in the United States, and a fake Pollock even sold for a staggering $17 million in 2007.

This fake Jackson Pollock was sold by Knoedler for $17 million.

This raises an intriguing question. Out of thousands of known artists, why is Jackson Pollock the one so many want to copy?

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In the world of art, there are those who follow the rules and those who break them. 

Pollock's revolutionary style challenged the very definition of art, leaving a lasting impact that continues to inspire and provoke to this day. His unique drip painting technique and the resulting abstract masterpieces have become synonymous with innovation and rebellion.

Pollock's journey to becoming one of the most influential artists of the 20th century was not a straightforward one. Born in 1912 in Cody, Wyoming, and growing up in the American West, he was exposed to the rugged landscapes and Native American art that would later influence his unique style. 

In 1930, at the age of 18, Pollock made a bold decision to move to New York City, where he immersed himself in the vibrant art scene of the time. It was here that he encountered the works of European modernists like Picasso and the Surrealists, as well as the innovative techniques of Native American sand painting.

These diverse influences, combined with Pollock's own inner turmoil and engagement with Jungian psychoanalysis, laid the foundation for his groundbreaking approach to art. 

He began to experiment with unconventional materials and techniques, such as using enamel house paint and aluminum radiator paint, applying them with sticks, towels, and even his own hands. This marked a radical departure from traditional painting methods and set the stage for Pollock's most famous innovation: the drip painting technique.

Pollock's drip paintings, which he began creating in the late 1940s, were unlike anything the art world had ever seen. Instead of using a brush to apply paint to a canvas, Pollock would lay his canvases on the floor and use various tools to drip, pour, and fling paint onto them. The result was a complex web of colors and textures that seemed to have a life of their own.

What made Pollock's technique so revolutionary was not just the unconventional methods he used, but also the way in which it challenged traditional notions of what art could be. 

By emphasizing the physical act of painting itself, rather than the finished product, Pollock shifted the focus from representation to expression. His work was not about depicting a particular subject or scene but about capturing the raw, primal essence of the creative process itself.

Of course, not everyone was ready to accept Pollock's radical new vision. Critics were quick to dismiss his work as mere chaos, lacking in skill and substance. Some even accused him of being a fraud, claiming that his paintings were nothing more than random splatters of paint. 

Pollock himself struggled with alcoholism and a volatile personality, which often threatened to derail his career and personal life. Still, he refused to be deterred by the naysayers. 

With the support of his wife, the artist Lee Krasner, he continued to push the boundaries of what was possible in art. Krasner played a crucial role in Pollock's development, not only providing emotional support but also introducing him to key figures in the art world who would help to champion his work.

Pollock's breakthrough came in 1943, when the influential art collector and gallerist Peggy Guggenheim gave him his first solo exhibition. The show was a sensation, with critics hailing Pollock as a visionary whose work represented a new direction in American art. Suddenly, the art world was filled with talk of this mysterious painter from Wyoming who was turning everything upside down.

In the years that followed, Pollock continued to refine his technique and push his work in new directions. He began to experiment with larger canvases, sometimes working on paintings that were over 17 feet wide. 

Among Pollock's most famous works are his "drip paintings" from the late 1940s and early 1950s, which include masterpieces like "Number 1, 1948," "Lavender Mist," and "Autumn Rhythm." 

Pollock's significance goes beyond his individual works. He was a key figure in the development of Abstract Expressionism, a movement that would dominate American art in the postwar period. Along with other artists like Willem de Kooning and Mark Rothko, Pollock helped to establish New York City as the new center of the art world.

Pollock's impact on the art world cannot be overstated. His work challenged the very notion of what art could be, opening up new possibilities for generations of artists to come. 

Pollock became a cultural icon, a symbol of the rebellious, individualistic spirit of postwar America. Tragically, Pollock's life was cut short in 1956, when he died in a car crash at the age of 44. 

Today, Pollock's paintings are among the most valuable and sought-after works of art, with some selling for tens of millions of dollars at auction.

The high market value of Pollock's works, combined with the seemingly simple nature of his drip painting technique, has made him an attractive target for forgers. The abstract nature of his paintings can make it difficult to distinguish between genuine works and skilled forgeries, leading to numerous high-profile cases of Pollock forgeries being sold for millions of dollars.