Daily Art Fixx

Abstract Expressionist painter and sculptor Willem de Kooning was born on April 24, 1904 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. De Kooning worked for a commercial-art and decorating firm and studied at the Rotterdam Academy of Fine Arts at night.  He immigrated to the United States (illegally) in 1926 and worked as a house painter in New Jersey before moving to New York in 1927.  De Kooning worked in commercial-art and at the WPA Federal Art Project until 1937.  In the late 1930’s,  he began painting full-time and his abstract and figurative works were influenced by Cubism, Surrealism, and Arshile Gorky who shared his studio.

In the 1940’s he participated in group shows with other New York School artists who became known as Abstract Expressionists. De Kooning is best known for his series of paintings of women – paintings created in the early 1950’s with aggressive slashing strokes and dripping paint.  His bold and expressive style and thick brushstrokes, often cause critics to classify de Kooning as an Abstract Expressionist. However many of his paintings are also figurative, and today there is still some debate over  his painting style .

De Kooning died on March 19, 1997 in Long Island, New York.  His works are  collected in major museums and galleries all over the world.  I have had the great privilege of seeing the painting above (Woman I) at the MOMA in New York City.  The colours and density of layers jump out at you.  The woman’s eyes that take up most of her face look straight at you in a disturbing stare that makes you want to look away – yet you can’t.

Related Books:
Elaine and Bill
Abstract Expressionism
Willem De Kooning: Paintings 1960-1980

Sources: Guggenheim Collection, Wikipedia

You may also like:

1. Elaine Fried de Kooning: 1918-1989
2. Jean Hélion, 1904 – 1987
3. Victor Vasarely – 1906–1997
4. Cecily Brown: Painting
5. Jackson Pollock: 1912-1956