Jackson Pollock's artistic journey in the 1940s was a pivotal period that marked his evolution into one of the most influential figures in Abstract Expressionism. During this decade, Pollock experimented with his style and techniques, leading to the development of his iconic drip paintings. Pollock's work in the early part of the decade continued to be influenced by his interest in Native American art, Mexican muralism, and the teachings of his mentor, Thomas Hart Benton. However, a significant turning point came when he was introduced to liquid paint at an experimental workshop led by Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros. This experience, combined with his study of José Clemente Orozco's murals at Dartmouth College, began to steer his work towards the innovative techniques that would define his later career​ (Wikipedia)​. By the mid-1940s, Pollock's experimentation with abstraction and his exploration of the unconscious, influenced by his Jungian psychotherapy, started to crystallize into a more defined artistic vision. His relationship with Lee Krasner, whom he met and later married in 1945, also played a crucial role in his development as an artist. Krasner introduced Pollock to influential figures in the art world, including Peggy Guggenheim, who provided him with his first solo exhibition and commissioned what would become one of Pollock's most famous works, Mural (1943)​ (The Art Story)​. Pollock's move to Springs, New York, in 1945, away from the urban intensity of New York City, provided him with the space and environment to fully explore and refine his drip technique. Laying canvases on the floor of his barn studio, Pollock used sticks, trowels, and the force of his entire body to pour, drip, and splash paint, creating complex, dynamic compositions that were at once chaotic and deeply controlled. This period saw the creation of some of his most famous works, including Autumn Rhythm (Number 30) (1950) and Blue Poles (Number 11, 1952), which exemplify his mature style characterized by dense webs of color and movement​ (The Art Story)​​ (Encyclopedia Britannica)​. Pollock's work in the 1940s culminated in the full expression of his radical abstraction, moving away from any recognizable imagery to focus on the act of painting itself. This shift not only marked the height of Pollock's career but also significantly impacted the trajectory of American art, firmly establishing Abstract Expressionism as a major movement. His work during this decade reflects a balance between control and chance, inviting viewers into a dynamic interaction with the canvas that challenges traditional notions of art and creativity​ (The Art Story)​.