Person Of Influence: Willem de Kooning

http://www.wikipaintings.org/en/willem-de-kooning/two-women-in-the-country

Willem de Kooning was born in the Netherlands, April 24, 1904. Kooning is a well known abstract expressionist artist. Kooning described art and the process of art with the following quote: "Art never seems to make me peaceful or pure. I always seem to be wrapped up in the melodrama of vulgarity". In 1950 Kooning began to focus on the female figure in an unusual way. His approach involved "savagely applying pigments to the canvas and the use of colors that seem to have been vomited on the canvas to reveal a woman all too congruent with some of modern man's most widely held sexual fears. The toothy snarls, over ripe pendulous breasts, vacuous eyes, and blasted extremities imagined the darkest Freudian insights" (1). In November 2006, Kooning's Woman III was sold for $137.5 million, making it the second most expensive painting ever sold. (ABOVE) Two Women In The Country is a beautiful piece by Kooning. The depth of colors and shapes to create the women is remarkable. I find this painting showing the power, energy, and strength of a woman. What do you think? (BELOW 1) The wave is a great piece. The variation in colors and brush technique is the essence of a wave. I find the yellow to represent the suns reflection on the water. What do you think? (BELOW 2) The Abstraction, 1950, is very expressionistic. The straight black lines and unique shapes make a powerful statement. The skull in the lower right hand corner adds a dark and emotional message to the painting. What do you think?

http://www.wikipaintings.org/en/willem-de-kooning/the-wave
1

http://www.wikipaintings.org/en/willem-de-kooning/abstraction-1950
2

Create This Look In Your Home:

Whether you buy these items or ones at a cheaper cost, the key to recreating the look of Willem de Kooning's paintings in your home is to bring in bright colors and different shapes. Bright colors can be brought in through rugs, furniture and paint. Different shapes can be brought in through tabletops, sculptures and lighting. The 1970s deep turquoise molded glass head is from Galerie Sommerlath. I choose this sculpture because, it resembles aspects of both the second and third paintings. In addition, the sculptures unique glass movement is similar to the movement of Kooning's paintings. The 1960s cream and red four Tiered Vistosi chandelier is from Flesses Design. The chandelier's disks resemble the many circular shapes in Kooning's paintings. In addition, the yellow and red disks are in the same color family as many of Kooning's paintings. The 1950s Italian lounge chair is by Giulia Veronese and from Michael Contessa. I love the deep purple and beautiful form. The lounge chair's form is very similar to the unique curves of Kooning's second painting. The 1960s red vintage Moroccan rug is from Amadi Carpets. The various colors in the rug are also in the paintings. In addition, the rugs straight lines are mirrored in the black straight lines of the first and third Kooning painting. You can add as little or as much to your space as you want. Don't follow rules, just do.

(1) Credit for Quote