Red, Black, and Silver was a symbol of enmity between Pollock’s mistress, Ruth Kligman, and his widow, Lee Krasner. Kligman argued that the artist had made the painting shortly before his death as a love letter to her, saying “Here’s your painting, your own Pollock” as he gave it to her. Krasner rejected this idea and convened a panel of experts to check the authenticity of Pollock’s paintings including the one discussed here. The panel believes the work is a fake as it lacks his signature among many other abnormalities. However, recent forensic testing revealed the presence of polar bear fur, matching a rug in Pollock’s East Hampton home along with some of Pollock’s own hair. Despite these findings, Red, Black, and Silver remains a source of contention over sixty years later.
By Alyssa Kent
Sources:
Cohen, Patricia. “A Real Pollock? On This, Art, and Science Collide.” The New York Times (24 Nov. 2013). https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/25/arts/design/a-real-pollock-on-this-art-and-science-collide.html [accessed 11 May 2021].