Dripping

The painting technique known as "dripping" revolutionized 20th-century art, becoming a distinctive mark of Abstract Expressionism. Used by Janet Sobel and popularized by Jackson Pollock in the 1940s, this technique involves letting paint drip from a brush or can directly onto a canvas placed on the floor, allowing gravity and the artist's body movement to guide the application of color. Inspired in part by the automatic techniques of Surrealism , dripping sought to free subconscious creativity and express deep emotions without the constraints of traditional forms.

This painting technique significantly influenced the development of Abstract Expressionism , a movement that sought to convey feelings and internal states through abstract and dynamic forms. Besides Pollock, artists like Lee Krasner and Willem de Kooning adopted and adapted this technique, contributing to the richness and diversity of the movement. The impact of dripping extended beyond Abstract Expressionism, influencing later movements like Pop Art and Minimalism .

Dripping also left an indelible mark on contemporary art, inspiring artists like Helen Frankenthaler and Morris Louis, who experimented with similar techniques to explore new forms of expression. In the context of art science, dripping has been the subject of studies analyzing the physics of paint flow and the gestural control of the artist, revealing the complexity behind its apparent spontaneity. This technique challenged the conventions of traditional painting and also opened new possibilities for artistic experimentation and self-expression.