Jackson Pollock, The moon woman cuts the circle, 1943

Jackson Pollock’s 1943 painting The Moon Woman Cuts the Circle is a compelling example of his early transition from figurative surrealism to the gestural abstraction that would later define his artistic legacy. Created during a pivotal period in Pollock’s career—shortly after signing with Peggy Guggenheim and before fully embracing his signature drip technique—this work reflects a powerful synthesis of mythology, subconscious symbolism, and expressive energy.

The painting features a central female figure, likely the “Moon Woman,” depicted in an abstract, totemic form, engaging with a circular motif that dominates the composition. The circle—an ancient symbol of wholeness, unity, and infinity—is disrupted or altered by the figure, suggesting a moment of transformation, intervention, or spiritual initiation. This symbolic act of “cutting the circle” may be interpreted as a metaphor for creation, renewal, or the breaking of boundaries—concepts that resonate deeply with Pollock’s personal and artistic evolution.

Rendered in bold, vibrant colors—rich reds, greens, blues, and earthy tones—the painting bursts with energetic forms, jagged contours, and a layered, dynamic composition. The figure appears both cosmic and elemental, echoing influences from Native American art, Jungian archetypes, and Surrealist automatism, all of which deeply impacted Pollock’s early visual language.

There is a palpable sense of movement and inner force in the work, as if the Moon Woman is a mystical force altering the very fabric of space. Though not yet abstract in the pure sense of his later works, The Moon Woman Cuts the Circle demonstrates Pollock’s growing interest in gestural expression and psychological depth.

This painting serves as a powerful precursor to Pollock’s mature style—imbued with mystery, mythic symbolism, and a raw emotional presence that foreshadows his revolutionary role in postwar American art.