Women Series, Abstract Expressionism

Oleh pmariaz August 04, 2023 Post a Comment

Willem de Kooning (19041997) Woman 1966 (61 x 76 cm) Peinture jpg (1600x1274)

Cover Willem de Kooning (19041997) Woman 1966 (61 x 76 cm) Peinture (1600x1274)

Early Life
Artistic Career
Abstract Expressionism
Women Series
Later Years

Early Life

Willem de Kooning was born on April 24, 1904, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. He was the youngest of five children born to a working-class family. His father was a wine merchant, and his mother was a housewife. De Kooning showed an early interest in art and began working as an apprentice in a commercial art and decorating firm at the age of 12. He attended evening classes at the Rotterdam Academy of Fine Arts and Techniques before moving to the United States in 1926.

Artistic Career

De Kooning settled in New York City and worked as a commercial artist before joining the Federal Art Project in the 1930s. He became associated with the Abstract Expressionist movement in the 1940s and was a founding member of the Eighth Street Club, a group of artists who would become known as the New York School. He began to receive recognition for his work in the 1950s and had his first solo exhibition at the Charles Egan Gallery in 1950.

Abstract Expressionism

De Kooning is best known for his contributions to the Abstract Expressionist movement, which emerged in New York City in the 1940s. This movement was characterized by large, abstract paintings that were created spontaneously and often expressed the emotions of the artist. De Kooning's work from this period was marked by his use of bold brushstrokes, vibrant colors, and a gestural style that emphasized movement and energy. His paintings from this period include "Excavation" (1950) and "Woman I" (1950-52).

Women Series

In the 1950s and 1960s, de Kooning created a series of paintings known as the Women series. These paintings featured abstracted female figures that were often distorted and fragmented. The Women series was controversial at the time, and some critics accused de Kooning of misogyny. However, de Kooning himself stated that the paintings were not intended to be portraits of women, but rather explorations of form and color.

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Later Years

De Kooning continued to paint throughout the 1970s and 1980s, but his style shifted away from the gestural abstraction of his earlier work. His later paintings were characterized by a more controlled style and a focus on color and composition. In the 1980s, de Kooning was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and his health declined rapidly. He died on March 19, 1997, at the age of 92.

Conclusion

Willem de Kooning was a pioneering artist whose work helped to define the Abstract Expressionist movement. His bold brushstrokes, vibrant colors, and gestural style continue to influence artists today. Despite controversy surrounding his Women series, de Kooning's work remains a testament to the power of artistic expression and experimentation.

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