Photographer Unknown
1970
Willem de Kooning's place as the leading Abstract Expressionist was well established when he built his Springs studio, in 1964. The artwork he is holding in his studio in this photograph may be one of the sketch-like paintings on paper he made during that period. Or, he may be handing the woman in the print dress a charcoal drawing for a raffle at the annual Springs Fisherman's Fair, to which he was known to contribute. The work behind him, painted with wavy, light-colored brush strokes, was representative of his major work at the time.
Soon afterward, he took a break from painting to concentrate on sculpture.