Willem de Kooning Ripped Up the Rules of Drawing
He was the best draftsman of his generation of postwar American artists. He had to unlearn everything he knew.
The exhibition "Willem de Kooning Drawing" at the Art Institute of Chicago is a classic retrospective that delves deeply into the creative process of a much-lauded artist. Unlike traditional retrospectives, this show takes visitors on a journey inside de Kooning's studio, providing a unique perspective on his artistic development.
De Kooning, a widely revered figure of America's 20th-century avant-garde, revolutionized the language of drawing, reimagining it in ways that are both rebellious and insightful. To achieve this, he had to master traditional techniques, demonstrating exceptional skill as a draftsman before transforming those skills for radically different purposes.
The exhibition includes early works such as "Dish With Jugs," a charcoal and conté crayon drawing that showcases de Kooning's ability to achieve photographic verisimilitude. As the show progresses, it reveals how de Kooning's appetite for new sensations grew over time, leading to his radical reconfiguration of drawing. The exhibit emphasizes that to rip up art's language effectively, one must first possess a deep understanding of its traditional foundations.
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