Flashback: Philippe Sollers' 1977 Essay on Willem de Kooning Revisited Amid Paris Exhibition

In 1977, the Musée de Grenoble and Galerie Templon presented an exhibition of paintings and sculptures by Willem de Kooning. Philippe Sollers visited the painter and wrote an essay published in artpress issue 11 in October 1977. The text has been republished in 2021, coinciding with the exhibition 'Soutine/De Kooning, la peinture incarnée' at the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris. Sollers' essay explores De Kooning's work within a Northern European artistic lineage, referencing Bosch, Bruegel, Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Mondrian, while contrasting it with Mediterranean traditions. It delves into De Kooning's techniques, such as action-painting, his incorporation of signature into his art, and his depictions of women, described as 'Lilith' figures. Specific artworks mentioned include 'Femme Accabonac' (1966), 'Femme II' (1952), 'Lumière de l’Atlantique Nord' (1977), 'La Visite' (1966-67), 'Suburb in Havana' (1958), and 'Door on the River' (1960). The essay also notes De Kooning's studio on Long Island, his use of materials like newspaper and a 'liner' brush, and his philosophical references to Kierkegaard and Bataille. Institutions holding his works include the Whitney Museum of American Art, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Tate London, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. The republishing highlights the enduring relevance of De Kooning's art and Sollers' critical perspective.