How did Jungian psychoanalysis influence Jackson Pollock’s paintings?

Jungian psychoanalysis significantly shaped Jackson Pollock’s artistic development and his approach to the unconscious. Pollock’s interest in the theories of Carl Jung was fostered by his early exposure to theosophical literature, which prepared him to explore unconscious imagery in his work.1

Between 1939 and 1941, Pollock underwent treatment with two successive Jungian psychoanalysts. During these sessions, he utilized his own drawings as a therapeutic tool, a practice that directly influenced his creative process. This engagement with psychoanalysis encouraged him to incorporate Jungian symbolism into his paintings, moving his work toward semi-abstraction.12

Even in his later career, the influence of this therapy remained evident. For instance, the configurations in his 1951 work Number Twenty-three, 1951/“Frogman” are directly related to drawings Pollock created during his sessions with his second Jungian analyst. Furthermore, his "poured" painting method—which he described as "veiling" images—has been interpreted by researchers as a form of free association, reflecting his ongoing exploration of the unconscious mind.3