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A Way of Living: The Art of Willem de Kooning
In a new format, the bestselling monograph on one of the most influential painters of the twentieth century.
Willem de Kooning was a leading exponent of Abstract Expressionism. MoMA's 2011 de Kooning retrospective drew record crowds, and his prodigious achievements continue to provoke and inspire subsequent generations of artists such as Cecily Brown, Rebecca Warren, and Jonathan Lasker. This new hardback format brings Judith Zilczer's critically acclaimed monograph to a new audience of readers.
Willem de Kooning was a leading exponent of Abstract Expressionism. MoMA's 2011 de Kooning retrospective drew record crowds, and his prodigious achievements continue to provoke and inspire subsequent generations of artists such as Cecily Brown, Rebecca Warren, and Jonathan Lasker. This new hardback format brings Judith Zilczer's critically acclaimed monograph to a new audience of readers.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 14, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 13, 2024
I had been drawn toward his work, but I learned to love de kooning through this book (it’s a beautiful book even if it’s too big to read comfortably and sentences run over from one page to skip across a few pages of images before being picked up again to complete their thoughts); he started as a house painter (and used house paints throughout his career) and didn’t take himself seriously as an artist until his early thirties, and I don’t know: I love his use of color, and I found his story reserved and charming
February 21, 2022
This is a present for me, from my wife. At the time of posting this review, it's still vacuum-wrapped in its clear film packaging.
But I've thumbed through this book in several bookshops numerous times since it came out, gazing in rapture and longing, practically drooling over the fabulously beautiful reproductions of de Kooning's incredible art. The five stars are, therefore, for the overall design of the book, and the copiously, gloriously illustrated content. Compared with my other big fat de Kooning book, this one focusses more overtly on the purely abstract stuff he's done, which is the stuff I like most.
Both of these de-luxe editions on my favourite 20th C. abstract painter attempt to cover his entire oeuvre, so at first I was chary of getting another book on him, given that it might simply contain what I already have. However, both the layout, and the other ways in which the art is presented, visually, make the two books complimentary, in my view.
I have yet to read the text. I'll have to wait till my birthday! (This review was first written and posted elsewhere, shortly before my birthday!) To be frank, given the state of most contemporary art history/criticism, I don't hope for much. For some reason the more contemporary the art, the worse the guff that's written about it.
Books on everything from the cave paintings of Lascaux, right up to modern painters in more traditional genres, e.g. Stanley Spencer or Lucian Freud, whilst occasionally pompous or overwrought, are at least usually fairly readable. But as art has broken free from its traditional moorings, the verbal peacock feathers around it have grown ever more gaudily verbose, opaque, and arcane, perhaps as a result of a crisis of traditional certainties?
Anyway, my current rating is based purely on the visual splendour of this magnificent edition, which I most eagerly await the unwrapping of.
But I've thumbed through this book in several bookshops numerous times since it came out, gazing in rapture and longing, practically drooling over the fabulously beautiful reproductions of de Kooning's incredible art. The five stars are, therefore, for the overall design of the book, and the copiously, gloriously illustrated content. Compared with my other big fat de Kooning book, this one focusses more overtly on the purely abstract stuff he's done, which is the stuff I like most.
Both of these de-luxe editions on my favourite 20th C. abstract painter attempt to cover his entire oeuvre, so at first I was chary of getting another book on him, given that it might simply contain what I already have. However, both the layout, and the other ways in which the art is presented, visually, make the two books complimentary, in my view.
I have yet to read the text. I'll have to wait till my birthday! (This review was first written and posted elsewhere, shortly before my birthday!) To be frank, given the state of most contemporary art history/criticism, I don't hope for much. For some reason the more contemporary the art, the worse the guff that's written about it.
Books on everything from the cave paintings of Lascaux, right up to modern painters in more traditional genres, e.g. Stanley Spencer or Lucian Freud, whilst occasionally pompous or overwrought, are at least usually fairly readable. But as art has broken free from its traditional moorings, the verbal peacock feathers around it have grown ever more gaudily verbose, opaque, and arcane, perhaps as a result of a crisis of traditional certainties?
Anyway, my current rating is based purely on the visual splendour of this magnificent edition, which I most eagerly await the unwrapping of.
January 2, 2025
I am most familiar with de Kooning's art from the middle of his career. Maybe for that reason, I was really struck by and enjoyed his early (1920s and 30s) and later (1980s) works presented in this book. This book was large and did a good job of showcasing his work.
September 19, 2021
Art is a way of life. Without art, life is dull.
December 23, 2025
de Kooning inspiration.
February 19, 2024
Thorough overview of de Kooning's work from his early career through the end. Explores the inspiration, changes, and continuities of his style at every major turning point. Good one to own.
August 26, 2014
The largest book I've ever borrowed from the library. Almost too huge to read comfortably. Definitely a coffee-table book. I know nothing of art, in fact I had never heard of this artist. Some of his art I really enjoyed. Some of it was Salvador Dali-esque. Mattise and Picasso inspired. Some of it was so unfinished or, almost macabre in a child-like way. Like I said, I don't know the first thing about art so that's probably why I didn't understand a good portion of his paintings.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews