Jackson Pollock is renowned for which painting technique?

• A. Pointillism
• B. Sfumato
• C. Tenebrism
• D. Drip painting

Answer: (D)

Drip painting is the technique Pollock is known for. He laid canvases on the floor and let paint drip, pour, or be flicked onto the surface from above, often using sticks or brushes rather than traditional strokes. This method foregrounds the act of painting itself—the artist’s movement and gestures become part of the image—creating an energetic, all-over field of lines and splashes rather than a carefully blended surface. That stylistic approach is what defines his work and sets it apart from other methods.

Pointillism relies on thousands of tiny dots to form images, sfumato uses soft, smoky gradations of tone to model form, and tenebrism emphasizes stark light-and-dark contrasts for drama. None of these describe Pollock’s loose, kinetic pouring and dripping process, which is why drip painting is the best fit.