“Woman I,” painted by Willem de Kooning in 1952, is an exemplar of Abstract Expressionism on oil and canvas. Displayed in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, this portrait measures 147.3 by 192.7 cm, and belongs to the genre of portraiture.
The artwork portrays a figure of a woman treated with de Kooning’s characteristic dynamic brushstrokes and vibrant palette. The depiction oscillates between abstraction and representation, imbued with kinetic energy and a layered texture that conveys a sense of both aggression and intimacy. The composition is dominated by vivid colors and bold lines, highlighting the expressive intensity of the subject’s form and posture. The figure of the woman appears to be simultaneously emerging from and dissolving into the canvas, a hallmark of de Kooning’s artistic exploration of form and fluidity.
