Why did Jackson Pollock paint the Blue Poles?

Blue poles is a painting, but not a conventional “easel painting”. Pollock’s erratic splashes of paint are intended to communicate to us the way he was feeling and thinking at the time he made the painting.

Why was Blue Poles so controversial?

The acquisition of Blue Poles, however, sparked a major controversy in Australia as people protested against the high price paid for it – in fact, it was the highest price every paid for an American painting at that time.

How big is the Blue Poles painting?

6′ 11″ x 15′ 11″
Blue Poles/Dimensions

Why is Blue Poles a masterpiece?

In 1974 the Australian Government purchased Jackson Pollocks masterpiece “Blue Poles” for the newly established National Gallery of Australia. It caused mass outrage and marked one of the first times that a single art work was front page news across the Australian press.

How much did NGA pay for Blue Poles?

The National Gallery of Australia (NGA) purchased Blue Poles in 1973 for A$1.3 million. The gallery’s director at the time, James Mollison, was not able to authorize purchases over $1 million, so the acquisition was approved by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam who decided that the price should be made public.

Where did the painting Blue Poles come from?

It was purchased amid controversy by the National Gallery of Australia in 1973 and today remains one of the gallery’s major holdings. At the time of the painting’s creation, Pollock preferred not to assign names to his works, but rather numbers; as such, the original title of Blue Poles was simply “Number 11″‘ or “No. 11” for the year 1952.

What kind of paint did Jackson Pollock use for Blue Poles?

So, let’s apply those steps to Blue poles (click on the top-right of the image to get a larger view): Jackson Pollock. Blue poles. 1952. Oil, enamel, aluminium paint, glass on canvas. 212.1×488.9cm. National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.

Is the Blue Poles at the National Gallery of Australia?

Both responses brought attention to the visual arts in a way never before experienced in Australia. Blue Poles is the most viewed artwork at the National Gallery of Australia. The gallery has only lent the painting to other institutions twice (to MoMA in 1998–99 and the Royal Academy of Arts, London in 2016).

Who was the original owner of Blue Poles?

From the New York-based Australian gallerist Max Hutchinson, he discovered that Blue Poles (painted in 1952) was available for sale from the original owner for $1.3 million ($11 million in today’s money).