Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an oil painting by the Abstract Expressionist artist Willem de Kooning. It dates from 1951 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled is a 1951 painting by Willem de Kooning, a key figure in the New York School of abstract expressionism. The work is executed in oil and metallic paint on canvas.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a blocky, angular figure with a pale face and wide, toothy grin. The figure's body is composed of thick, stacked shapes, set against a messy background with slashed paint and indistinct edges.
Technique & Style
De Kooning employed a gestural style, characterized by spontaneous and energetic brushwork. The paint is applied in heavy, layered strokes, with some areas featuring thick impasto, where the paint is scraped on in dense, textured ridges.
History & Provenance
The painting is part of the collection at The Museum of Modern Art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Willem de Kooning ( də KOO-ning, Dutch: ; April 24, 1904 – March 19, 1997) was a Dutch-American abstract expressionist artist.
