Review of Stevens and Swan book on de Kooning

Hey, just found this thread. Thanks for the link -- you know De Kooning is one of my favorites (no secret there).

Glad you ran across this...

I ordered the book (through the site so they'd get credit -- Craven is tiring of beans).

Good. I like deKooning too, will be interested on your take on the book.

I'd like to pick it up.

I really enjoyed Elaine and Bill: Portrait of a Marriage. Seems like it was a decade ago, but it made quite an impression.

He remains an enigmatic character to me. What was his deal with women?

I was very impressed with Elaine. I hadn't known the Kennedys were so forward thinking as to confidently ask an ABSTRACT IMPRESSIONIST to do a portrait. <LOL> That's nervy!

Two deeply interesting people.

What did you make of them?

(I've decided to get the new book.)

I also got a kick out of the competition with Pollack and contemporaries.

Here's a little gossip fest for you: Lee Hall who wrote Elaine and Bill briefly ran Rhode Island School of Design, until she was forced out for being a tyrant. She wanted faculty to hand over 25% of their earnings to the school when they exhibited and sold their art.

After she got canned from RISD she wrote Elaine and Bill, which, in my opinion dug into their personal lives in a way that was more lurid than informative.

Thanks for the perspective.

What do you think would be the best book on him, or them?

Well, actually, go to Hirschel Chipp's book: Theories of Modern Art and read the essay written by De Kooning. Straight from the horses mouth.

Great. Thanks.

Sure 'nuff.

I'm only up to chapter two. Get back to you later.

I'm not interested in de Kooning, you see I have TWO JLNobodys to hang in my home.

Such gladness in my heart.

Oh, good... wonder which ones...

I've only got one...oh, you mean the paintings.
That's for Dys to reveal.

Or conceal, as the case may be.
(I'm delighted, you know.)