Willem de Kooning : The Breakthrough Years, 1945-1950 / John Elderfield, Mitra Abbaspour ; with Lee Colón ; and a contributrion by Jim Coddington and Bart J. C. Devolder.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Elderfield, John, author.

Abbaspour, Mitra, author.

Contributor:

Colón, Lee, contributor.

Coddington, James, contributor.

Devolder, Bart J. C., contributor.

Princeton University. Art Museum, host institution, issuing body.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

De Kooning, Willem, 1904-1997--Exhibitions.

De Kooning, Willem.

Abstract expressionism--Painting--20th century.

Abstract expressionism.

Avant-garde (Aesthetics)--United States--History--20th century.

Avant-garde (Aesthetics).

Painting--Technique--20th century.

Painting.

Genre:

exhibition catalogs.

Exhibition catalogs.

Physical Description:

143 pages : illustrations (some color), portraits ; 31 cm

Other Title:

Breakthrough Years, 1945-1950.

Place of Publication:

Princeton, New Jersey : Princeton Univerity Art Museum, [2026]

Summary:

"In 1948, Willem de Kooning held his first solo exhibition, at age forty-four, at the Charles Egan Gallery in New York City. Willem de Kooning: The Breakthrough Years explores how the painter developed his distinctive style in the period leading up to the show, blending figuratio This beautifully illustrated book features illuminating essays by John Elderfield and Mitra Abbaspour, who closely consider de Kooning's work during this time, the environment and influences that surrounded him, and the impact of the 1948 exhibition on both his career and the New York School. Lee Colón's detailed chronology provides invaluable context for the exhibition while Jim Coddington and Bart Devolder's material study of Black Friday--a painting included in the 1948 exhibition--offers vital perspective on the painter's working methods. Featuring paintings and drawings made by the artist between 1945 and 1950 as well as important primary source material, this book sheds critical light on a prolific and formative period in the life and career of an incomparable artist"--Amazon website.

Contents:

The creative process itself / John Elderfield

Chronology / Lee Colón

1948: A remarkable year for the American Avant-Grade / Mitra Abbaspour

Use, reuse, work, and rework: the painting of Black Friday / Jim Coddington and Bart J.C. Devolder.

Notes:

Published in conjunction with an exhibtion held at the Princeton Univerity Art Museum, 15 March - 26 July 2026.

Includes bibliographical references (page 137) and index.

ISBN:

9780691973968

0691973962

OCLC:

1589259840