The first book I read really went in depth of individual artists. In my second book, it really showed the more negative aspects of the Abstract Expressionist movement. It discussed the heavy influence of the Depression, and how many of the artists had their best work feeding off of the past expirences of being broke in New York and being an under appreciated artist. Another topic emphasised was the death of the image of the romanitc distraught artist. The Abstract Expressionists consisted of heavy drinkers from teenage ages, "defiantly intransigent behavior"(Still), violent deaths, suicide, and general bohemianism all together became a hardened image.
Not uncommon in many professions, but something I didn't really expect to learn because I being heavily involved in the arts have always found it being largely female dominated, but prejudice was prevalent during the height of Abstract Expressionism. Lee Krasner in particular, her whole career was undermined by her husband. Before marriage though, she would be ignored by the art community, not being invited to invitationals, gallery viewings, ect. that Pollock would, because her fellow artists were no different than the large majority of Americans, and had the same assumptions abbout gender.
It makes sense that women artists were under appreciated because writers like Jane Austin had trouble too with her works. Women at the time just didn't have any rights, not even the right to vote, so it makes sense that they weren't paid attention to as an artist. I was confused on the part you explained about the death of the image of suicides and alcoholics. I don't really know what that means. Maybe you could elaborate a little bit more on that topic.
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