Untitled

Untitled

Elaine de Kooning

1960

acrylic

From the collection of Museum of Modern Art

About this work

This painting is a wild mix of bold colors—lots of yellow, red, and black—smeared and brushed in thick, uneven strokes. The shapes don’t look like anything real; they’re more like energy or movement frozen on paper. Some areas are dark and rough, while others glow with bright, almost glowing patches. The paint is applied so thickly in spots that it looks almost three-dimensional, like you could reach out and touch it. The artist didn’t worry about making things look perfect or realistic—just raw and expressive. If you like this style, check out impasto to learn more about how thick paint creates texture.

More by Elaine de Kooning

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