Provenance
Sold by Jan Krugier, New York, to Richard and Mary L. Gray, Chicago, Apr. 18, 1989; promised to the Art Institute of Chicago, 2019.
Accession Number
202437
Medium
Black and brown charcoal, with smudging, on cream wove paper
Dimensions
28 × 21.4 cm (11 1/16 × 8 7/16 in.)
Classification
drawings (visual works)
Credit Line
Promised gift of Richard and Mary L. Gray
Background & Context
Background Story
Willem de Kooning's Figure shows the artist's ongoing exploration of the human figure. De Kooning's figures are never merely representational; they are built through gestural strokes that convey both form and emotion.
Cultural Impact
De Kooning's figure paintings are among the most important of the 20th century.
Why It Matters
This figure captures de Kooning's synthesis of abstraction and figuration.
