Willem de Kooning's Woman series, created between 1950 and 1953, stands as one of the most influential and controversial bodies of work in modern art. These paintings, with their aggressive brushwork, distorted figures, and vivid colors, mark a significant period in de Kooning's exploration of the human form, particularly the female figure.
The series, comprising paintings such as "Woman I" through "Woman VI," showcases de Kooning's revolutionary approach to portraiture. In these works, the depiction of women is both a continuation and a departure from traditional representation. The figures are characterized by a dynamic interplay of abstraction and figuration, where the form is both constructed and deconstructed by de Kooning's vigorous application of paint. The apparent conflict between the violent brush marks and the subject matter, between the slashing strokes and the depicted women's smiles, has sparked diverse interpretations. De Kooning himself suggested he was capturing "the enchantment and sunny charm of the All-American girl," yet some feminist critics have read the works as depicting viciousness and brutality (Willem de Kooning).
This period in de Kooning's work is notable for its technical innovation and expressive intensity. Despite the seemingly spontaneous execution, technical examinations reveal that de Kooning worked on these canvases in stages, meticulously selecting and exploiting materials to underscore his imagery. For instance, "Woman" of 1948, part of this series, initially started as a black-and-white abstraction, with anatomical elements introduced later. This layering technique, combined with the use of unconventional materials such as household paints, contributed to the paintings' textured surfaces and complex visual effects (Hirshhorn Museum).
Furthermore, the Woman series illustrates de Kooning's ambivalence toward the dichotomy between abstraction and figuration. He seamlessly moved between these modes of expression, indicating that for him, "all kinds of painting become just painting" (Hirshhorn Museum). The technical versatility, combined with a profound engagement with the subject matter, makes the Woman series a pivotal moment in de Kooning's oeuvre and in the broader narrative of 20th-century art.
Despite—or perhaps because of—their contentious reception, these works have cemented de Kooning's legacy as a master of modern art, capable of evoking complex emotional and intellectual responses through his depictions of the female form. They not only challenged conventions of beauty and representation but also pushed the boundaries of painting itself, influencing generations of artists to come.