Willem de Kooning's "Clamdigger" series showcases a pivotal moment in the artist's career where he ventured into sculpture, a medium he explored later in life. Known primarily for his abstract expressionist paintings, de Kooning embarked on creating sculptures after being inspired during a stay in Rome in 1969. His sculptural works, including the "Clamdigger," exhibit an extraordinary tactile quality and figurative abstraction, drawing from the physical and sensory experiences of clam diggers near his East Hampton home. These sculptures, described as part human, part creature of the mud and shallows, embody a blend of the primordial and the personal, marking a significant departure from his earlier painting work​ (Wikipedia)​.

Intriguingly, it was the British sculptor Henry Moore's encouragement that led de Kooning to consider enlarging his small-scale sculptures, among them "Clamdigger," which he modeled in clay in 1972 and cast in bronze in 1976. This piece, representing his first large-scale bronze work, remained a unique depiction within de Kooning's oeuvre, melding the figurative with abstract expressionism in three dimensions​ (Wikipedia)​​ (Phaidon)​.

"Clamdigger" not only demonstrates de Kooning's skillful adaptation to sculptural forms but also underscores his continuous exploration of the human figure and his environment. The series reflects his engagement with the materiality of sculpture, emphasizing the artist's hands-on approach to creating art. De Kooning's use of oversized workman's gloves during the modeling process further amplified the expressionist markings on his figures, highlighting his fascination with the tactile and the transformative potential of clay​ (Phaidon)​.

The "Clamdigger" sculptures are celebrated for their robust, energetic forms and serve as a testament to de Kooning's artistic versatility and his ability to transcend the boundaries between painting and sculpture. These works, particularly noteworthy for their integration of abstract expressionist motifs within a sculptural context, have enriched the narrative of 20th-century art, revealing the breadth of de Kooning's creative vision.