What is action painting and where does it stand in modern art?

Action painting is an artistic style and technique consisting in the splashing, spilling and throwing of paint directly onto the canvas. It was developed in America in the middle of the 20th century (1940-1960) and it is part of the wider, modern movement called Abstract Expressionism. The main purpose of the aforesaid movement was to express the artist's state of mind through abstract drawing. So do the quick, sudden, spontaneous gestures of action painters during the execution of their artworks. The intricate, complex lines created on the canvas suggest the troubled lives of the artists. In fact, this style is seen as a method of conveying feelings unconsciously through the movements of the body. Many artists, like Jackson Pollock, would lie their canvas on the floor so that they could move freely around it. There was not the need of representing a clear image that was understandable for the viewers; it was rather about capturing the unconscious of the artists as they were deeply invested in their own art. Major exponents of this style are Jackson Pollock, William Congdon and Franz Kline.