Polar Stampede - USA

• Lee Krasner

  Polar Stampede

  1960

  245.84 x 412.43cm~
• Who was Lee Krasner?


  • B. Brooklyn in 1908 - to a working-class Russian-Jewish immigrant family.
  • Studied art at the Woman’s Art School at Cooper Union, the Art Students League, and the National Academy of Design.
  • Studied European Modernism at Hans Hofmann’s School of Fine Arts, transitioning from classicism to abstraction.
  • Married Jackson Pollock in 1945 and was a key figure in Abstract Expressionism.
  • D. New York 1984 - having earned institutional recognition late in her career.
• What were Krasner’s key artistic traits and values?

  • Advocated for destruction and creation: constantly editing and reinventing her work.
  • Her work emphasized gesture, rhythm, and the unconscious mind, often exploring themes of time and self.
  • Valued spontaneity and organic forms, reflecting nature and emotional depth.
  • Declared her art biographical: “My painting is so biographical if anyone can take the trouble to read it.”
• What are the ‘Umber Paintings,’ and why are they significant?

  • Created between 1959 and 1962, also known as the ‘Night Journeys,’ painted under artificial light during her chronic insomnia.
  • Marked by raw and burnt umber, white, and black—reflecting her emotional state post-Pollock’s death and her mother’s passing.
  • Painted on large unstretched canvases using oils and long brushes, often leaping to reach areas, creating ‘physical paintings.’
  • Polar Stampede (1960): Dynamic, layered, gestural work with staccato rhythms and emotional intensity.
• What influenced Krasner’s style?

  • Early influences: European modernism, particularly Cubism and automatism from Surrealism.
  • Pollock’s gestural techniques, though Krasner’s style remained distinct.
  • Nature and organic forms played a key role, as did her own emotional and biographical experiences.
• How did Krasner’s work differ from Pollock’s?

  • Shared gestural movements and color palettes but remained distinct in touch and facture:
  • Krasner: Feathery, rhythmic, and layered.
  • Pollock: Thicker and more fluid.
  • Krasner tackled themes of self and rhythm, often rejecting comparisons to Pollock.
• What challenges did Krasner face in gaining recognition?

  • Overshadowed by Pollock and dismissed as his follower.
  • Institutional recognition came late:
  • First retrospective in 1965 at Whitechapel Gallery, London.
  • Major US retrospective on her 75th birthday in 1983, months before her death.
  • Remains underrepresented in UK collections (e.g., only Gothic Landscape at Tate).
• What themes and techniques define Krasner’s art?

  • Themes: Time, rhythm, self-expression, and unconscious thought.
  • Techniques: Large-scale, all-over compositions with gestural, physical application of oil paint.
  • Her paintings often reflect music, momentum, and layered organic forms.
• What is automatism, and how did it influence Krasner?

  • Automatism: Art created without conscious thought, accessing the subconscious.
  • Originated in Surrealism and influenced Krasner’s spontaneous, dynamic painting process.
  • Helped her explore deep emotional and biographical themes.
• How did Hans Hofmann influence Krasner’s early practice?

  • At Hofmann’s School, she studied Cubism and abstract techniques, developing a deeper understanding of form and structure.
  • Hofmann praised the “strong inner rhythm” in her work, a quality that became a hallmark of her style.
  • This period marked a break from traditional methods, propelling her toward abstraction.
• What was Krasner’s turning point to Abstract Expressionism?


  • Moved away from influences like Cubism and Surrealism, embracing a spontaneous, gestural style.
  • This breakthrough came as she explored the unconscious mind and organic rhythms in her art.
• How did Krasner’s art evolve during the ‘Umber Paintings’ period?

  • After Pollock’s death in 1956, Krasner repurposed his barn studio to create large-scale, emotionally charged works.
  • The ‘Umber Paintings’ (1959–1962) were created under artificial light at night, reflecting her insomnia and grief.
  • Used a reduced palette of umber, white, and black to convey psychological intensity.
• How did Krasner’s gender influence her artistic career?

  • Operated in a male-dominated art world where women artists were often marginalized.
  • Overlooked in favor of her husband, Jackson Pollock, yet continued to assert herself as an independent artist.
  • Became a symbol of perseverance, paving the way for future women artists in Abstract Expressionism.