Lee Krasner: An Icon of Lyrical Abstraction
Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to dive into the fascinating universe of Lee Krasner, a genuine force of nature who revolutionized modern art! Long overshadowed by the fame of her celebrated husband Jackson Pollock, Krasner is today recognized as one of the major figures of Abstract Expressionism, having left an indelible mark on the history of art.
A Star Is Born in 1900s Brooklyn
Born Lena Krassner in 1908 in Brooklyn, Lee (as she would later be known) grew up in a family of Ukrainian Jewish immigrants. From her earliest years, she showed a consuming passion for art, preferring brushes to dolls.
According to biographer Gail Levin, Lee would later say: "I was determined to be an artist from the age of 14, and nothing could stop me." This determination led her to the Women's Art School of Cooper Union, then to the prestigious National Academy of Design. Just imagine: our young Lee, armed with her easel, ready to conquer the art world!
From the Academy to the Avant-Garde
The 1930s saw Lee Krasner immerse herself in the bubbling artistic crucible of New York. She studied with the legendary Hans Hofmann, who would one day declare that her work was "so good you would not believe it was done by a woman." (Yes, sexism was fashionable at the time, but Lee couldn't have cared less!)
It was during this period that she began developing her unique style, blending Cubism, abstraction, and an energy entirely her own. Her early works, such as "Self Portrait" (1929), already show an artist unafraid to challenge conventions.
The Meeting That Changed Everything
In 1941, Lee met Jackson Pollock at an exhibition. It was a thunderbolt — both artistic and personal! They married in 1945 and settled on a farm in Springs, Long Island. Contrary to popular belief, it was not only Pollock who influenced Krasner. As art historian Barbara Rose emphasizes, "Krasner played a crucial role in the development of Pollock's mature style."
During this period, Lee created her "Little Images" series (1946–1950), miniature explosions of color and form that prefigure action painting. These works are today considered masterpieces of nascent Abstract Expressionism.
Reinvention and Triumph
The tragic death of Pollock in 1956 might have been a fatal blow to many artists. But not to our Lee! She transformed her grief into explosive creativity, giving birth to revolutionary series of works.
Her "Earth Green" series (1956–1959) is a genuine cry of rage and hope on canvas. Art critic Clement Greenberg said of these works that they were "among the most powerful expressions of vitality and aggression in contemporary art."
Then came her "Umber" series (1959–1962), painted at night during bouts of insomnia. These monochromatic works, such as "The Eye is the First Circle" (1960), are true landscapes of the soul — dark and tormented, yet breathtakingly beautiful. Painter and scholar Ann Gibson describes them as "deep explorations of the unconscious and of memory."
The Legacy of a Giant
Today, Lee Krasner is finally recognized as one of the major figures of contemporary art. Her works are exhibited in the world's greatest museums, from the MoMA in New York to the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
In 2019, her abstract painting "The Eye is the First Circle" sold for the astronomical sum of $11.7 million at Sotheby's. A record that proves the art world has finally understood the inestimable value of this extraordinary artist.
A Toast to Lee!
Lee Krasner was far more than a mere painter. She was a pioneer, a rebel, a woman who defied the conventions of her era with as much grace as determination. Like other women of her time, such as Joan Mitchell or Helen Frankenthaler, her art — at once powerful and sensitive — continues to fascinate and inspire us.
So the next time you see a canvas by Krasner, take a moment to stop and admire it. Imagine this woman with her fierce gaze, brush in hand, creating entire universes on her canvas. That is Lee, the queen of Abstract Expressionism, who continues to make us dream, nearly a century later.
And remember: in a world of watercolors, dare to be a blazing oil painting. That is what Lee would have wanted!
Going further...
If this article has awakened your curiosity (and I certainly hope it has!), I warmly recommend visiting the exhibition "Lee Krasner: Living Colour," which will tour major European museums in 2024–2025. Who knows — you might come away with the desire to transform your own life into a work of art!
Sources for the curious:
- Levin, Gail. "Lee Krasner: A Biography." William Morrow & Co, 2011.
- Rose, Barbara. "Lee Krasner: A Retrospective." Museum of Modern Art, 1983.
- Hobbs, Robert. "Lee Krasner." Abbeville Press, 1993.
- Krasner, Lee. "Oral history interview with Lee Krasner, 1964 Nov. 2–1968 Apr. 11." Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
- "Lee Krasner: Living Colour." Barbican Art Gallery, London, 2019.