Janet Sobel: The Unsung Pioneer of Abstract Expressionism

Janet Sobel, a largely overlooked yet significant figure in the art world, is an artist whose contributions to Abstract Expressionism often go unnoticed. Born as Jennie Olechovsky in 1893 in Ukraine, Sobel and her family emigrated to the United States in 1908, settling in New York. She began painting relatively late in life, around the age of 45, without formal training, making her a key figure in the realm of self-taught, or “outsider,” art.

Janet Sobel, c. 1944. (Photo credits: Family of Janet Sobel, courtesy of Gary Snyder Fine Art)

The Discovery of a Unique Voice

Sobel’s journey into art began in an unconventional manner. In 1939, she picked up painting as a hobby to express herself creatively. Her son, a student of art, encouraged her work, helping her display some of her early pieces. This familial encouragement pushed Sobel to experiment with different techniques and materials, leading her to develop a distinct, innovative style.

What is less commonly known about Sobel is her role in pioneering the “drip painting” technique—often attributed to Jackson Pollock. In fact, Sobel’s works were seen by Pollock at Peggy Guggenheim’s gallery, Art of This Century, in 1946, before he employed a similar method in his own work. Art critic Clement Greenberg even noted in 1945 that Sobel’s work was one of the most striking he’d seen, specifically mentioning the use of the drip technique. However, her work was often overshadowed by Pollock’s more widely publicized adaptations of the same style, contributing to her being largely forgotten in the art history canon.

Janet Sobel, Milky Way, Enamel on canvas, 1945. MoMa-Museum of Modern Art

Art, Surrealism, and the Subconscious

Sobel’s work is deeply rooted in Surrealism, with its embrace of the unconscious and intuitive approach to art-making. Her compositions, a blend of abstract forms and spiritual symbolism, often reflect her Eastern European heritage, as well as the cultural and emotional impact of displacement and migration.

Her paintings are marked by intricate, delicate patterns, with webs of color and shapes that suggest a free-flowing, meditative process. In this way, Sobel’s work anticipated the gestural abstraction that would come to define the New York School of painting. She was a visionary who saw beyond the formalities of conventional art-making, engaging directly with the act of creation as a form of personal and psychological exploration.

Overlooked by History

Despite the bold innovations in her work, Sobel remained largely ignored by the mainstream art world. Many art historians believe this neglect was partly due to her status as a female artist working outside the established institutions, and the fact that she was older when she started her career. Her lack of formal training and her immigrant background also distanced her from the art elite of the time. It wasn’t until decades later that scholars began to recognize Sobel’s contributions as a precursor to some of the most important movements of the 20th century.

Sobel’s career was relatively short-lived. She stopped painting in the late 1940s and passed away in 1968, her work largely forgotten. But with the rise of feminist art history and a renewed focus on the contributions of overlooked women in the art world, there has been a resurgence of interest in her work.

Influence and Legacy

Sobel’s work challenges long-held narratives of art history, particularly regarding the origins of Abstract Expressionism. While artists like Pollock are credited with breaking away from European traditions of painting, Sobel’s work stands as evidence that she was exploring these ideas years earlier. Though her role was downplayed, she paved the way for Pollock and other male artists who later gained fame for similar techniques.

What sets Sobel apart is not just her influence on Pollock but her own deeply personal and spiritual approach to painting. Her work, such as Milky Way—1945 (Pictured above), possess a cosmic, otherworldly quality, often exploring themes of life, death, and the universe. These themes, along with her experimental use of materials, have begun to garner more appreciation in recent years.

Janet Sobel in studio, 1945. (Courtesy of Gary Snyder)

A Modern Reassessment

Today, Sobel is gaining recognition as an artist ahead of her time. Exhibitions like the Museum of Modern Art’s 2016 “Making Space: Women Artists and Postwar Abstraction” have highlighted her contributions. In addition, scholars are revisiting her work to reassess her impact on modern art, particularly in the context of women artists who were marginalized during their lifetimes.

Her story sheds light on the broader issue of how art history often overlooks those who do not fit into its conventional narratives. Sobel’s contributions may have gone unrecognized during her lifetime, but her legacy as a trailblazer of Abstract Expressionism is becoming more apparent as her work is rediscovered by a new generation of art lovers and historians.

Janet Sobel, The Burning Bush, Oil on canvas, 1944 (Los Angeles County Museum of Art)

Conclusion

Janet Sobel’s life and work are a testament to the power of self-expression, even in the face of societal and institutional barriers. As a self-taught artist who began creating later in life, Sobel’s groundbreaking techniques and spiritual approach to art were well ahead of their time. While her contributions were overshadowed during her lifetime, her influence, particularly on artists like Jackson Pollock, is now being acknowledged.

Sobel’s art not only enriches the story of Abstract Expressionism but also raises important questions about the overlooked voices in the history of modern art. Her work continues to inspire those who seek to break free from conventional expectations and create art that speaks from the soul.