Willem de Kooning
Willem de Kooning (1904-1997) was a prominent Dutch-American painter known for his influential role in the Abstract Expressionism movement. He immigrated to the United States in 1926 and settled in Manhattan, where he connected with notable artists like Jackson Pollock and Arshile Gorky. De Kooning's artistic style is characterized by gestural brushwork and vibrant colors, often merging abstraction with figurative elements. His early fame grew significantly after his first solo exhibition in 1948 and the showcasing of his painting "Excavation" at the Venice Biennial in 1950. During the 1950s, he became particularly recognizable for his series of paintings depicting women, which elicited diverse interpretations, being seen both as misogynistic and as powerful representations of femininity. His work is noted for bridging the cubist influences of Pablo Picasso and the innovations of his Abstract Expressionist contemporaries. De Kooning's legacy continues to resonate in contemporary art, influencing movements such as Pop Art that emerged in the 1960s.
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Subject Terms
Willem de Kooning
- Born: April 24, 1904
- Birthplace: Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Died: March 19, 1997
- Place of death: East Hampton, New York
Identification Dutch American abstract expressionist painter
During the 1950’s, the work of Willem de Kooning helped abstract expressionism reach international scope and influence, becoming the first American movement to have such worldwide impact.
Willem de Kooning developed an interest in art early and apprenticed with a commercial art firm while taking night classes in fine art. In 1926, he entered the United States illegally (he became a U.S. citizen in 1962) and took up residence in Manhattan, where he made the acquaintance of artists Arshile Gorky, John Graham, and Jackson Pollock. De Kooning had his first solo art show in 1948. In 1950, his painting Excavation was exhibited at the prestigious Venice Biennial and was subsequently purchased by the Art Institute of Chicago. Through the 1950’s his fame increased, bolstered by retrospective exhibits in Boston and at the Venice Biennial.
De Kooning’s work was highly gestural and appeared spontaneous, but in fact de Kooning worked over his paintings many times. While painters such as Pollock, Franz Kline, and Mark Rothko painted completely abstract paintings, de Kooning never entirely abandoned the human figure. During the 1950’s, de Kooning’s most celebrated works were of women. Brightly colored and painted in an aggressive style, these paintings were alternately viewed as misogynist and as representing the power of women. Other de Kooning works related to landscape or to the frenetic world of Manhattan.
Impact
De Kooning was in many respects the quintessential American painter. His work linked both the cubist tradition of Pablo Picasso and the pure abstraction of other abstract expressionists. His wild paintings of women look forward to the pop art of the 1960’s.
Bibliography
Butler, Cornelia H., et al. Willem de Kooning: Tracing the Figure. Los Angeles: Museum of Contemporary Art, 2002. An insightful look at de Kooning’s drawings.
Prather, Marla. Willem de Kooning: Paintings. Washington, D.C.: National Gallery of Art, 1994. This book combines a critical biography with numerous color reproductions.