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Are They Pollocks or Bollocks?

Scientist says pigments on the paintings weren't patented while artist was alive

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 15, 2007 8:42 PM CDT

(Newser) – Paintings dug out of an old Hamptons locker might light up the art world with multi-million dollar sales or prove to be utter fakes, Newsweek reports. Marked “Pollock Experiments” and dribbled in the American artist’s style, the small pictures on cardboard will be drawing crowds in Boston next month – and sparking arguments from scholars and scientists as collectors wait in the wings with checkbooks at the ready.

Elbowing into the squabble is a scientist who says pigments on the pictures weren’t even patented when Pollock was alive. A leading scholar supports the find, stressing Pollock’s relationship with a friend who kept the paintings in storage. Meanwhile Pollock’s foundation is so skeptical that they're keeping his verified works away from the show’s catalog.

[Images (3)]

[Videos (2)]

Jackson Pollock painting "One: Number 31, 1950" is viewed at the Museum of Modern Art. (Wikimedia; Creative Commons)

This image provided by Sotheby's New York shows Jackson Pollock's "Number 16," a 1949 oil and enamel on paper mounted on masonite scheduled to be auctioned in Sotheby's Contemporary Art Evening on Tuesday... (Associated Press)

Known for his unique "drip" paintings, authenticity of what might be recently discovered Pollock works is difficult to determine. (Getty Images (by Event))

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Jackson Pollock at work in this 8mm archival film, turned shoe advertisement. (gregrunnels (YouTube))

Jackson Pollock at work, with narration. (monicapauline (YouTube))

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Are They Pollocks or Bollocks?