John Baldessari's "Pollock/Benton" series, presented at Marian Goodman Gallery in 2016, is a fascinating exploration of the interplay between painting, photography, image, and language that has characterized Baldessari’s work since the 1960s. This series delves into the art historical dialogue between two iconic American painters: the Regionalist Thomas Hart Benton and his protégé, the Abstract Expressionist Jackson Pollock. By juxtaposing these figures, Baldessari investigates their influence on each other and on the broader spectrum of American art, aiming to uncover a new "intermediate space" within their intersecting legacies​ (Marian Goodman)​​ (GalleriesNow.net)​.

The series continues Baldessari’s examination of the relationships between disparate images and texts, a theme present throughout his career. By pairing images with texts from everyday life that seem incongruous, Baldessari invites viewers to forge new narratives and meanings from these combinations. This process emphasizes the "third meaning" that arises when two elements are brought into proximity, a concept central to Baldessari's practice​ (Marian Goodman)​​ (GalleriesNow.net)​.

"Pollock/Benton" builds upon themes from Baldessari's earlier works, where the editing and removal of elements from paintings or photographs—often through overpainting or erasing parts of the image—create a space for new interpretations. This method serves as a means of recontextualizing and challenging traditional views of art history, encouraging a fresh engagement with familiar images​ (Marian Goodman)​​ (GalleriesNow.net)​.

Through this series, Baldessari not only reflects on the significant shift in art history marked by Pollock's emergence but also on his personal interest in the dynamics between teacher and student, as Benton was to Pollock. This exploration is indicative of Baldessari's broader inquiry into the nature of artistic influence and the development of visual language over time​ (Marian Goodman)​.