Oil on canvas, framed. Featuring an abstract expressionist composition. Signed and attr. Elaine de Kooning (American, 1918-1989) on the lower left corner. 39 x 48 cm (15.4 x 18.9 in). Elaine de Kooning was a prominent American painter known for her skill as a portraitist. Her energetic figurative works provided an important perspective in the milieu of Abstract Expressionism. “A painting to me is primarily a verb, not a noun,†she once said. “An event first and only secondarily an image.†Born Elaine Fried on March 12, 1918 in Brooklyn, NY, she went on to study at Hunter College and the American Artists School. Early on in her career, she gained prominence in the New York art scene, becoming a member of the Eighth Street Club alongside Franz Kline, Clyfford Still, and Hans Hofmann. During her mid-20s, she married her former teacher the painter Willem de Kooning, with whom she maintained a long and often tumultuous relationship. Throughout her career, De Kooning often painted friends and contemporary figures, including a commissioned portrait of President John F. Kennedy. In the next few decades, the artist worked in a style influenced by prehistoric cave paintings and held teaching positions held at institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania and Yale University. De Kooning died on February 1, 1989 in Southampton, NY. Today, the artist’s works are held in the collections of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, and the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City, among others. PROVENANCE: Southern Ontario estate

All authorship of items in this catalog are described according to the following terms:

By [Artist Name] : In our opinion, the work is by the artist.

Attributed to [Artist Name] : In our opinion, the work may be ascribed to the artist on the basis of style, but there may be some question as to actual authorship.

In the manner of [Artist Name] : In our opinion, the work was executed by an unknown hand, but was designed deliberately to emulate the style of the artist.

After [Artist Name] : In our opinion, the work was executed by an unknown hand, but is a deliberate copy of a known work by the artist.

Circle of [Artist Name] : In our opinion, a work of the period of the artist showing his influence, closely associated with the artist but not necessarily his pupil.

Follower of [Artist Name]: In our opinion, a work by a pupil or a follower of the artist (not necessarily a pupil).

American, 19th century : In our opinion, this work was executed by an unknown hand, and can only be identified by origin (i.e., region, period).

Bears signature : In our opinion, the signature on the artwork may be spurious.
Apocryphal : Of doubtful authenticity.