Willem de Kooning

Published in 1965, this slim volume compiles Willem de Kooning's scattered statements, interviews, and lectures, offering a window into the artistic philosophy that underpinned his revolutionary canvases. Unlike many artist statements, de Kooning’s prose is not a dry academic exercise; it’s a living, breathing testament to the struggle of creation. He grapples with the tension between abstraction and figuration, the influence of the old masters, and the relentless pressure to innovate. His language, much like his brushstrokes, is at once hesitant and assertive, questioning and definitive. It's a testament to the fact that profound visual art often springs from equally profound intellectual engagement.

De Kooning’s essays reveal an artist deeply suspicious of dogma and fixed ideologies. He famously declared that 'art never seems to make people happy' and that 'what a painter is, is a being who is not quite sure of what to do.' This self-doubt, however, was not paralysis but a driving force: a constant push to dismantle expectations and rebuild. He saw painting not as a means to an end, but as a continuous process of discovery, a wrestling match with the canvas. His writings reject easy answers, instead embracing the complexities and contradictions inherent in the act of making art.

One of the collection’s strengths lies in its refusal to simplify de Kooning’s process. He speaks candidly about the influence of Cubism, the Dutch masters, and even commercial art on his practice, demonstrating a wide-ranging intellectual curiosity. His reflections on the 'figure' — whether absent or present, distorted or implied — are particularly illuminating, showing how he sought to infuse abstraction with a visceral, human quality. These are not merely explanations of his work but extensions of it: verbal paintings that articulate the struggle to capture fleeting impressions and profound emotions.

However, the brevity of the collection is its most significant drawback. One wishes for more sustained critical engagement with specific works or longer, more developed theoretical explorations. The pieces are often fragmented, arising from interviews or short statements, which means that a reader looking for a cohesive, linear argument might find themselves wanting. It feels less like a complete intellectual biography and more like a series of tantalizing glimpses, leaving one to piece together the larger narrative. While de Kooning's aversion to fixed statements is understandable, a slightly more structured approach would have deepened the reader's understanding.

Despite its limitations, 'Willem de Kooning' is indispensable for anyone interested in 20th-century art. It demystifies the artist without diminishing his genius, showing that the Abstract Expressionist movement was not just about spontaneous gesture but also about rigorous thought and philosophical inquiry. De Kooning’s words resonate today, reminding us that true artistic innovation often involves a relentless questioning of what has come before, and a courageous embrace of uncertainty. It's a masterclass in intellectual honesty, delivered with an artist's distinctive voice.