Jackson Pollock's Mural: A Photograph's Untold Story

A 1943 photograph by Bernard Schardt captures Jackson Pollock before his blank canvas for Mural, his shadow reflected on it. The image evokes Pliny's legend of Cora tracing her lover's shadow, linking to the origins of sculpture. Unlike Hans Namuth's heroic depictions, Pollock appears hesitant, hand dangling, full of doubt. The photo was taken before Pollock's fame; it is speculated that Lee Krasner arranged the shoot out of love, as she also secured the commission from Peggy Guggenheim. Despite its title, Mural is a canvas on a stretcher, not a wall painting like those of Mexican muralists who influenced Pollock. At the time, Pollock did not work on the floor but declared easel painting dead, following Matisse. Mural measures 243.2 x 603.2 cm, an idea of space later echoed by Barnett Newman, who saw Pollock's large formats but found them too classical, adding centimeters in width to create something new. The dialogue between painters is evident. This reflection comes from an interview by Catherine Millet.