Willem de Kooning

Date of Birth: April 24, 1904

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Date of Death: March 19, 1997

Biography

Willem de Kooning was a Dutch-American abstract expressionist artist born in Rotterdam, Netherlands. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and pioneering figures in modern art. De Kooning began his formal training at the Rotterdam Academy of Fine Arts and Techniques. In 1926, he stowed away on a British freighter to reach the United States, eventually settling in New York City. During the 1940s and 1950s, de Kooning became a leading figure in the Abstract Expressionist movement, known for his dynamic and emotive paintings. His work often featured abstracted women, most notably in his “Woman” series, which stirred both acclaim and controversy. De Kooning’s career spanned over five decades, during which he continuously evolved his style, exploring both figuration and abstraction. He received numerous accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Despite battling alcoholism and dementia in his later years, de Kooning continued to paint until his death in 1997.

5 Interesting Facts about Willem de Kooning

1. Willem de Kooning stowed away on a freighter to immigrate to the United States illegally in 1926.

2. He worked as a house painter and commercial artist before gaining recognition as a fine artist.

3. De Kooning’s “Woman I” (1950–1952) is one of his most famous and controversial works, depicting a grotesque figure that challenged traditional representations of the female form.

4. He was a part of the New York School, a group of artists, poets, and musicians including Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko.

5. Despite his battle with Alzheimer’s disease, de Kooning continued to create artwork well into his 80s, producing vibrant and abstract pieces.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Willem de Kooning

1. “I paint the way I do because I can keep putting more and more things into it—drama, anger, pain, love, a figure, a horse, my ideas about space.”

2. “The attitude that nature is chaotic and that the artist puts order into it is a very absurd point of view, I think. All that we can hope for is to put some order into ourselves.”

3. “Art never seems to make me peaceful or pure. I always seem to be wrapped in the melodrama of vulgarity.”

4. “Flesh was the reason oil paint was invented.”

5. “Style is a fraud. I always felt the Greeks were hiding behind their columns.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Willem de Kooning’s net worth was estimated to be around $20 million, particularly due to the high value of his paintings in the art market.