Jackson, Pollock, Jackson Pollock
On the floor I am more at ease, I feel nearer, more a part of the painting, since this way I can walk around in it, work from the four sides and be literally `in' the painting.
-- Jackson Pollock, 1947.
Pollock, Jackson (1912-56). American painter, the commanding figure of the Abstract Expressionist movement.
He began to study painting in 1929 at the Art Students' League, New York, under the Regionalist painter Thomas Hart Benton. During the 1930s he worked in the manner of the Regionalists, being influenced also by the Mexican muralist painters (Orozco, Rivera, Siqueiros) and by certain aspects of Surrealism. From 1938 to 1942 he worked for the Federal Art Project. By the mid 1940s he was painting in a completely abstract manner, and the `drip and splash' style for which he is best known emerged with some abruptness in 1947. Instead of using the traditional easel he affixed his canvas to the floor or the wall and poured and dripped his paint from a can; instead of using brushes he manipulated it with `sticks, trowels or knives' (to use his own words), sometimes obtaining a heavy impasto by an admixture of `sand, broken glass or other foreign matter'. This manner of Action painting had in common with Surrealist theories of automatism that it was supposed by artists and critics alike to result in a direct expression or revelation of the unconscious moods of the artist.
Pollock's name is also associated with the introduction of the All-over style of painting which avoids any points of emphasis or identifiable parts within the whole canvas and therefore abandons the traditional idea of composition in terms of relations among parts. The design of his painting had no relation to the shape or size of the canvas -- indeed in the finished work the canvas was sometimes docked or trimmed to suit the image. All these characteristics were important for the new American painting which matured in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Male and Female
1942 (240 Kb); Oil on canvas, 73 1/4 x 49 in; Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Moon-Woman
1942 (170 Kb); Oil on canvas, 69 x 43 in; Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice
Stenographic Figure
1942 (180 Kb); Oil on canvas, 40 x 56 in; The Museum of Modern Art, New York
Blue (Moby Dick)
c. 1943 (150 Kb); Gouache and ink on composition board, 18 3/4 x 23 7/8 in; Ohara Museum of Art, Kurashiki
The She-Wolf
1943 (230 Kb); Oil, gouache, and plaster on canvas, 41 7/8 x 67 in; The Museum of Modern Art, New York
Eyes in the Heat
1946 (320 Kb); Oil on canvas, 54 x 43 in; Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice
The Key
1946 (270 Kb); Oil on canvas, 59 x 84 in; The Art Institute of Chicago
The Tea Cup
1946 (230 Kb); Oil on canvas, 40 x 28 in; Collection Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden
Shimmering Substance
1946 (280 Kb); Oil on canvas, 30 1/8 x 24 1/4 in; The Museum of Modern Art, New York
Number 8, 1949 (detail)
1949 (280 Kb); Oil, enamel, and aluminum paint on canvas; Neuberger Museum, State University of New York
Easter and the Totem
1953 (150 Kb); Oil on canvas, 84 1/4 x 58 in; The Museum of Modern Art, New York
During the 1950s Pollock continued to produce figurative or quasi-figurative black and white works and delicately modulated paintings in rich impasto as well as the paintings in the new all-over style. He was strongly supported by advanced critics, but was also subject to much abuse and sarcasm as the leader of a still little comprehended style; in 1956 Time magazine called him `Jack the Dripper'.
By the 1960s, however, he was generally recognized as the most important figure in the most important movement of this century in American painting, but a movement from which artists were already in reaction (Post-Painterly Abstraction). His unhappy personal life (he was an alcoholic) and his premature death in a car crash contributed to his legendary status. In 1944 Pollock married Lee Krasner (1911-84), who was an Abstract Expressionist painter of some distinction, although it was only after her husband's death that she received serious critical recognition.
I love my t-shirts. They're young. Hip. Trendy. They can also be worn under a business suit to add some funk to an otherwise drab look. Of course, we know they can be worn with jeans. Whether casual, flirty, sexy or just plain old comfortable, t-shirts are a must-have in anyone's wardrobe. C'mon. Admit it. We all have them.
In this article, I'm going to focus on ten t-shirts from Italy's best and brightest fashion houses that show that t-shirts don't have to be grungy. They are often quite fashionable. And, as I firmly believe, they'll never go out of style!
1) Hey, who says a t-shirt has to look casual! Hmm? I know I didn't. This long-sleeve jersey from Blumarine has a boat-slit neckline. The fabric is smooth and looks almost silky. The piece is unlined and made of 100% rayon! I love the little shoe-string laces on the sides and the sexy peek-a-boo sleeves that show a hint of skin! You can pair this shirt with a skirt of any length, dressy or casual pants and; of course, jeans. It's so versatile you will probably want to buy more than one!
2) From the Armani Collezione, we get yet another gorgeous, designer t-shirt. This stretch jersey tee has a boat slit neck. Its sheer print gives the hint of skin while covering you up in complete comfort. The long sleeves are great for winter or spring.
The item is beautiful enough to be worn dressed up and can also look great with a pair of tight jeans and stiletto hills. This piece is hot!
3) Marni is a designer label that knows women. Just look at this t-shirt. This isn't your boyfriend's (or husband's) t-shirt, is it? It's soft and supple. The cowl-neck is loose and oh-so-feminine. It's comfortable and skims your curves without clinging to them too tightly. This is a piece that travels well whether you wear it on the plane or pack it in your best luggage. This cotton tee looks - and feels - fantastic!
4) Don't you just love Dolce & Gabbana? Yes, this is a D&G t-shirt! Can you believe it? Sleek. Sexy. Form-fitting. Curve-hugging - and with a touch of feminine lace. This may be the perfect t-shirt. It's almost dressy. However, the Elastane and Viscose combination make this tee one that will fit you like a second skin. It looks great with jeans as seen in this picture; but, could work well with a teeny-weeny black mini - what a perfect club outfit, right?
5) From Alberta Ferretti we have this classic t-shirt. The lines are simple as is the design, the cut and the fabric. This tee is smooth - made mostly of Rayon. It will glide over your curves. You can wear it with a business suit, a skirt or dress pants for work. You can pair it with jeans or capris for a casual, summery look. Do what you will with it - this t-shirt can take whatever you can dish out!
6) Who better than Versace to create a t-shirt fit for a rock goddess? This sleeveless piece is perfect to show off your toned arms. The metallic silver on the shoulder is picked up throughout the piece in the logo in the front and in chunks of color on the back. The color splashes vary between lighter purple and a deep, dark purple. This shirt oozes sex appeal and begs to be worn when you are sure to take center stage. It's an attention-grabber!
7) I loved the last tee so much that I stuck with Versace for this piece! I guess it's the little bit of rock n' roll that grabs me so. I really love the look and feel of this piece. It's just cool. Did you know that the t-shirt is encrusted with studs! How great is that? I love the long-sleeves and the color scheme. If you love the front, though - the back is even better. See the sexy cutouts. Aren't they awesome?
8) From Moschino Jeans we have this lovely turtleneck t-shirt. The heart-shaped design with the pretty pink embellishments is really what caught my eye. Of course, I also love the t-shirt turtleneck. It's comfortable and warm - great for a cold winter day or night. This t-shirt brings me back to my upbringing in Boston. I love the way it feels. I love its sleek look. The sassy design makes me feel like I'm wearing a painting. It looks great with a white wool skirt - or any a-line skirt you can find. I also love to wear it with jeans for a casual yet elegant look.
9) This turtle-neck t-shirt may be my favorite piece in this article. It comes to us from Daniela Vecchi. Daniela knows beauty. She's not afraid to shy away from it even with a t-shirt. Look at the lace accents with the sheer, wool/nylon jersey underneath! The high-color of the turtleneck is exquisite and the rear-zip enclosure is sexy and chic. The two-tone lace is a touch of design genius. I really can't say enough about this piece. I absolutely adore it!
10) I was going to include a basic white short-sleeved tee for the last item. Then, I spotted this Marni t-shirt and fell in love. Yes, I am a fickle, fickle girl when it comes to fashion. There is nothing basic about this t-shirt. It's short-sleeved and made of poplin. The neckline is asymmetrical. The cut is flowing - and flattering to most body types. The design is romantic and feminine. It's an exquisite piece that belongs in anyone's collection, really.
There you have it - ten terrific Italian-made t-shirts. They're not your mamma's or your boyfriend's t-shirts. They're feminine. Flirty. Fun - and fashionable. They work with jeans, skirts and more.
Elegance is in the Italian blood, and most Italians would unhesitatingly give up comfort in order to achieve it. Italy is a nation that cherishes outward appearances. Yes, it is great if you have a good heart, but Italians would expect you to have well-groomed hair, an impeccable sense of dressing and a really neat pair of shoes besides. So it is no wonder that some of the world's best sartorial artists are from Italy.
Starting from one of the pioneers of modern fashion, Elsa Schiaparelli, to the modern czar of extravagant opulence, Roberto Cavalli, Italian fashion has had it all. Italian men and women have had some of the best fashion visionaries watching over what they wear: be it clothes, perfume, shoes, jewelry or hair-do, for almost all of the last century.
The privileged Italians have had names like Brioni and Zegna look after their work wear, and the house of Valentino to call upon when they needed clothes for that real special occasion. Armani has been at hand, letting Italians know that they can be subdued yet elegant, as has the house of Versace which has given a new meaning to glamor. Diesel is a world conqueror in a category all its own, and the likes of Prada, Missoni, Ferragamo, Ferre, Bottega Veneta, Damiani and Bvlgari are discussed in hushed tones of awe in fashion circles across the world.
And for the everyday lives of stylish Italians, there has been the eponymous Zara, and countless other names strewn across Italian cities that continue to take pride in making men and women beautiful. Hollywood has paid homage to Italians and their sense of dressing: for the past few decades most of the glitterati on the red carpets are clad and bedecked in clothes and jewelry made in Italy.
Fashion is almost a national passion, and to see the latest trends one need only glance around the various piazzas, restaurants and streets. Interestingly, these are trends worn to show off the best of the wearer, and imperceptibly conceal any flaws: individual Italians for the most part follow trends that suit them. Besides, few fashion conscious Italians would go for something trendy that is not also durable, classic and genuine.
A svelte Italian woman striding down the cobbled streets in the latest ultra-high wedges without missing a step, hair flying in the breeze, epitomizes an attitude almost all Italians have: of dressing with care and confidence, but seeming artless. And this attitude can only be achieved through a tradition of seduction and refinement handed down through generations. Italians love to show off, but mostly in an individualistic, understated way: while their clothes fit, they still allow room for sensual movement.
For Italians, it is not about clothes at all. Italian fashion is actually all about an attitude: an attitude of custom-made, fluid, sophistication.
Full Fathom Five
