American painter Jackson Pollock was born on this day in 1912. Pollock was one of the most influential painters of the 20th century. He was a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement and was known for his drip style of painting. Pollock struggled with many inner demons, was an alcoholic for most of his life. He died in an alcohol related car accident at the age of 44 in 1956.

An outstanding work on Pollock is “Jackson Pollock: An American Saga” by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith.

above “Autumn Rhythm” from 1950.