Discuss the work of Jackson Pollock, considering his painting as an expression of his times with the growing interest and awareness of psychology and psychiatry and of the subconscious. Jackson Pollock was an American artist and prominent figure for art from the late 1940s until his premature death in 1956. He developed a distinguished influence in America for expressionist painting, initiating the abstract expressionism movement in New York post-World War II, when the city overtook Paris as the ‘art capital’ of the world. His work was consequential from self-expression and psychological release, and received a tremendous response from the public for his unique artistic methods and the emotional response encouraged in his work. His growing affiliation with psychology, psychiatry and his interest in the subconscious affected his works as he conveyed mental and emotional states of mind and used his troubles as a basis for his creativity. Portrayed within his paintings are Pollock’s conflicting emotions and sides of his personality, being an unsettled, uncaring side and a sensitive side. His artworks were total abstractions, with no representational forms, and he showed disregard for traditional painting conventions. Visually, his paintings were reflective of both the vibrancy and spirit of American culture, but even more so of his personal ongoing hardships and their consequential effects on his mind and identity. His original technique of painting in dripping, splashing and pouring paint would generate movement, which symbolized different emotions, and the intensity of said emotions. This movement combined with the colours he chose to use also developed the tone and mood of his work. Pollock endured an ongoing adversity as an alcoholic, and would often experience high peaks of intense emotion, which was when he said he did his best work. This was displayed in all of his paintings and derived emotional responses from the audience