"No. 5, 1948" by Jackson Pollock — History, Analysis & Where to See It

No. 5, 1948: Pollock's Revolutionary Drip Painting

No. 5, 1948 by Jackson Pollock is one of the most famous and expensive paintings in the world. Created in 1948 at the height of Pollock's revolutionary "drip period," this large-scale work exemplifies the radical technique that made Pollock the most celebrated — and controversial — American artist of the twentieth century.

The painting belongs to the tradition of Abstract Art, specifically the movement known as Abstract Expressionism, which emerged in New York in the late 1940s. Pollock's drip paintings abandoned traditional tools and methods entirely: instead of using a brush on an easel, he laid the canvas on the floor and poured, dripped, and flung paint across its surface in rhythmic, dance-like movements.

The Story Behind the Painting

Jackson Pollock created No. 5, 1948 in his studio in Springs, a hamlet in East Hampton, Long Island. He and his wife, the painter Lee Krasner, had moved there in 1945, converting a barn into a studio. It was in this converted barn that Pollock developed his iconic drip technique, laying large canvases or fiberboards on the floor and pouring industrial house paint from cans, using sticks, trowels, and hardened brushes to direct the flow.

The painting was created during what is often called Pollock's "classic period" (1947–1950), when he produced the drip paintings that would define his legacy. During this period, Pollock was at the peak of his creative powers, producing works of extraordinary energy and complexity. The photographer Hans Namuth documented Pollock at work during this time, creating the famous images and films of the artist in action that helped cement his public image.

No. 5, 1948 was acquired by various private collectors over the decades. In 2006, it was reportedly sold by David Geffen to David Martinez for approximately $140 million, making it one of the most expensive paintings ever sold at the time (though the exact details of the sale have been disputed). The painting remains in private hands and is not regularly accessible to the public.

Despite its private status, No. 5, 1948 has become one of the most reproduced and discussed paintings of the twentieth century. Its astronomical sale price brought renewed attention to Pollock's work and to the broader question of how the art market assigns value to abstract art.

Artistic Analysis: Technique & Style

The Drip Technique

Pollock's drip technique was a radical departure from all previous painting methods. Instead of applying paint to a vertical canvas with a brush, he laid the support flat on the studio floor and poured, dripped, and splattered liquid paint from above. He used sticks, trowels, and hardened brushes, moving around and sometimes over the canvas in rhythmic, full-body movements. The result is a dense, all-over web of interlacing lines and splatters that has no focal point, no hierarchy, and no beginning or end.

All-Over Composition

No. 5, 1948 exemplifies what critics call "all-over" composition — a painting in which every area of the surface is equally activated, with no center, no edges, and no privileged vantage point. The interlocking skeins of paint create a visual field that seems to extend beyond the edges of the support, suggesting a potentially infinite expanse. This approach was revolutionary, breaking with centuries of Western compositional tradition.

Color and Layering

The painting features layers of yellow, white, gray, and brown paint built up over a dense black foundation. The colors interweave and overlap in complex patterns, creating a sense of depth without illusionistic space. Some areas are thick with impasto, while others are thin and translucent, creating a varied surface texture that rewards close inspection. The predominantly warm palette gives the painting an organic, almost autumnal quality.

Gesture and Physicality

Every mark in the painting records a physical gesture — the swing of an arm, the flick of a wrist, the movement of the artist's body around the canvas. The painting is, in a very literal sense, a record of Pollock's physical performance during its creation. This emphasis on the act of painting — rather than the representation of a subject — was central to Abstract Expressionism and influenced generations of subsequent artists.

Where to See No. 5, 1948

No. 5, 1948 is in a private collection and is not regularly on public display. It is occasionally loaned to major exhibitions, but there is no permanent public venue where it can be viewed.

To see other major Pollock drip paintings, visit the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, which holds several important Pollock works, including One: Number 31, 1950. The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim Museum in New York also hold significant Pollock paintings.

If you use ArtScan at any museum, you can identify Pollock paintings and every other artwork you encounter — getting instant artist information, historical context, and details about the techniques used, all in your preferred language.

Fun Facts About No. 5, 1948

• It sold for approximately $140 million. In 2006, No. 5, 1948 was reportedly sold in a private transaction for around $140 million, making it one of the most expensive paintings ever sold at the time.
• Pollock used house paint. Rather than traditional artist's oils, Pollock frequently used industrial enamel and house paint, which he bought from a local hardware store in Springs, Long Island.
• He worked on the floor. Pollock laid his canvases flat on the studio floor so he could approach them from all four sides, pouring and dripping paint in continuous, looping movements.
• "Jack the Dripper." In 1949, Life magazine published a feature on Pollock with the headline "Is he the greatest living painter in the United States?" The article made him a celebrity and earned him the nickname "Jack the Dripper."
• No. 5 is just a number. Pollock deliberately gave his drip paintings numbers rather than descriptive titles to prevent viewers from looking for representational imagery. He wanted people to engage with the paint, color, and rhythm on their own terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is No. 5, 1948 located?

The painting is in a private collection and is not regularly on public display. Major Pollock works can be seen at MoMA, the Met, and the Guggenheim in New York.

Who painted No. 5, 1948?

Jackson Pollock (1912–1956) created this painting in 1948, during his most celebrated period of drip paintings.

How much did No. 5, 1948 sell for?

The painting was reportedly sold in a private transaction in 2006 for approximately $140 million, making it one of the most expensive paintings ever sold.

What art movement does this painting belong to?

No. 5, 1948 belongs to Abstract Expressionism, the first major American art movement, which emphasized spontaneous, gestural mark-making and large-scale abstraction.

How did Pollock create his drip paintings?

Pollock laid his canvas or fiberboard flat on the floor and poured, dripped, and flung liquid paint from cans, using sticks, trowels, and hardened brushes. He moved around the canvas in rhythmic, dance-like movements, building up layers of interlacing paint.

Why are Pollock's paintings considered important?

Pollock's drip paintings represented a radical break with tradition, eliminating brushwork, composition, and subject matter in favor of pure gesture and process. They helped establish New York as the center of the postwar art world and influenced generations of subsequent artists.