Willem de Kooning's drawings take center stage at Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago presents 'Willem de Kooning Drawing', an exhibition that blurs the line between drawing and painting, featuring over 200 works spanning seven decades. Curator Kevin Salatino describes de Kooning as 'the last Old Master', linking him to Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Rubens. The show includes rarely seen pieces, such as early caricatures, crucifixion scenes, and drawings made with eyes closed. Highlights include de Kooning's first surviving drawing 'Dish with Jugs' (c. 1919-21) from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and an untitled blue abstraction from 1985. Iconic works like 'Excavation' (1950) and 'Woman I' (1950-52) are also on view. Approximately half of the loans come from private collections and foundations. The exhibition marks the first major de Kooning show at the Art Institute since 1969 and coincides with the 100th anniversary of his arrival in the US as a stowaway. After Chicago, many works travel to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam for 'Willem de Kooning at Work' (9 October-17 January 2027).