Willem De Kooning (Modern Masters Series) [Paperback]

Harry F. Gaugh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1983 | Series: Modern Masters Series

With more than 100 illustrations -- approximately 48 in full color -- this innovative series offers a fresh look at the most creative and influential artists of the postwar era. Modern Masters form a perfect reference set for home, school, or library. Each handsomely designed volume presents:

- A thorough survey of the artist's life and work

- Statements by the artist

- An illustrated chapter on technique

- Chronology

- Lists of exhibitions and public collections

- Annotated bibliography

- Index

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Abbeville Press; New ed edition (October 1, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558592482
• ISBN-13: 978-1558592483
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,309,316 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars His Study of Women vs. Himself, May 5, 2001

By 

carol irvin "carol irvin" (United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Willem de Kooning (Modern Masters Series,) (Paperback)

I was enjoying my book of de Kooning's work years ago, when I was painting in that same abstract expressionist style. I especially loved his "portraits" of women done within that style. I was showing them to hubby one night and he said, "The women look just like him. I think he was painting himself." Well, whose the artist in this household, huh? That was my first thought. My second was that, darn it all, hubby was right! As I went back through the paintings, I couldn't believe I'd missed seeing that. Just like writers, artists spend a lot of time doing autobiographical work, sometimes not even knowing they are doing so themselves. de kooning lived to a very old age and his work became simpler yet still in variations of his basic abstractionism. I think he was a marvelous painter and well worth studying but if you hate abstract expressionist art, he is not for you. There are a number of filmed documentaries, which show him painting in his studio, that I saw years ago. They are well worth chasing down as well for artists. He spent as much time looking at his paintings, studying them as they evolved, maybe even more time, which is a very natural thing for an artist to do once in the creative process. If you ever feel guilty for just staring and staring at your work before moving onto its next stage, de kooning can make you feel much better about yourself!