Matisse’ 1905 Fauvist Classic | Pollock’s 1950 Drip Classic

Henri Matisse - Lady in a Hat (1905)

This classic work of Mattisse’ was a seminal piece in the Fauvist movement (1905-07).  Interestingly the work was generated at the start of the movement, and proved indicative of works to come.  The short-lived movement did not move beyond the innovations of its earliest works.

Jackson Pollock - Autumn Rhythm (1950)

This seminal work of Pollock’s was generated at the latter end of his most recognized period (1947-50).  It epitomizes all the innovations that we have come to associate with Pollock; his approach to the line breaking or not, the All Over conception of the canvas, and use of the drip technique.  Compared to Matisse and the Fauvists, Pollock’s most innovative works from this period were generated at the end of the its span.  

Economist David Gallenson has clearly iterated in his books (Old Master and Young Geniuses, Conceptual Revolutions in Twentieth Century Art) that this type of contrast can be attributed to a fundamental difference in the approach of these two iconic artists to the task of painting. 

Matisse, a conceptual innovator (according the Gallenson’s analysis), would not only have made his greatest innovations at a younger point in his career (he painted Lady when he was 36), but the innovations developed would provide the point of derivation for all future works.  Thus, we see Matisse’s 1905 Fauvist masterpiece as equally important to any other works he produced over the Movement’s span.  Comparatively, Pollock, an experimental innovator (using Gallenson’s system) would have produced his greatest works later in life; thus, we see Autumn Rhythm happening towards the end of his most productive, 1947-50, period when the artist was 38.  We can more thoroughly differentiate between these two masters by analyzing their approach to preparation, painting, and completion of works too (all part of Gallenson’s system).  But for this quick post, I just wanted to highlight the central difference in the times when each artist innovated.    

This is an interesting method of analysis for better understanding how innovation happens and what we can learn from studying the procedural approaches of seminal creative people and/or firms. This is creative economy.

JNOMICS