Portrait of Jack Greenbaum 1959

Elaine de Kooning made this portrait of Jack Greenbaum with oil on canvas using slashing gestures of greens, blues, and yellows. I love how this painting feels so raw, like I can practically smell the turpentine. What was she thinking when she made it? Was she trying to capture Jack's essence, or was she just having fun with paint? I can see her, brush in hand, attacking the canvas with broad strokes, then stepping back to squint at the emerging form. Look at the way she built up the surface, layer upon layer, each stroke a record of her decision-making process. Thick in some places, thin in others, the paint creates a topography of feeling. The way the blue of the suit bleeds into the green of the background, it’s a conversation between colours. And those yellows that burst from behind like sunshine, unexpected, but perfect. This feels like a painting made by someone who knew painting, and who also loved it.