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Pollock avoided hydrodynamic instabilities to paint with his dripping technique
Bernardo Palacios1, Alfonso Rosario1, Monica M Wilhelmus2
1Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México.
Plos One
|October 31, 2019
Summary
Jackson Pollock
Area of Science:
- Art History
- Fluid Dynamics
- Physics
Background:
- Jackson Pollock's iconic drip paintings are characterized by intricate webs of lines.
- Previous studies suggested hydrodynamic instabilities were key to Pollock's technique.
- The physical processes behind Pollock's unique painting method remained largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally reproduce Jackson Pollock's dripping technique.
- To analyze the fluid dynamics involved in Pollock's abstract art.
- To investigate the role of hydrodynamic instabilities in his paintings.
Main Methods:
- Image analysis of historical video recordings of Pollock painting.
- Experimental reproduction of the dripping technique using controlled conditions.
- Analysis of paint properties and application dynamics.
Main Results:
- Pollock's technique actively avoided hydrodynamic instabilities.
- Paint viscosity and application parameters (speed, height) were controlled to prevent filament fragmentation and coiling.
- The study refutes previous claims about the role of instabilities.
Conclusions:
- Jackson Pollock's drip paintings were created by carefully controlling physical conditions to avoid instabilities.
- Understanding the physics of his technique is crucial for art historical research.
- This knowledge can aid in the authentication of Pollock's artworks.
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