The Big Review: Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous ★★★★½

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's blockbuster exhibition, Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous, presents a comprehensive examination of the relationship between artists Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock. The show emphasizes Krasner's significant contributions to the Abstract Expressionist movement, which were overshadowed during her marriage to Pollock.

The exhibition's title stems from Krasner, who is presented as the more influential artist in the relationship. The exhibition begins with a striking gallery featuring six vertical abstractions by Krasner, created in the 1950s through collage techniques using pieces of her unsold paintings, canvas, and Pollock's drawings. As viewers move through the exhibition, they encounter Pollock's monumental paintings, such as Convergence: No. 10 (1952), which showcases the contrasting styles of the two artists.

Krasner's works, often more intimate in scale, are presented alongside Pollock's abstract pieces, highlighting their shared influences and the codependent nature of their relationship. The Met curators David Breslin and Brinda Kumar successfully demonstrate how Krasner's support and advocacy played a crucial role in Pollock's career, and vice versa.

While Pollock remains the more prominent figure in the public eye, Krasner's influence and market value are still significant. The exhibition's stark contrast between the artists' works – from Krasner's lyrical, early pieces to her later miniature abstractions – and Pollock's larger, more dynamic paintings, emphasizes their individual artistic journeys.

The Met's exhibit provides a fresh perspective on the Abstract Expressionist movement, shedding light on the often-overlooked contributions of Krasner and the lasting impact of her partnership with Pollock.