Willem De Kooning the Netherlands — 1904

Willem de Kooning (1904-1997) was a Dutch-American abstract expressionist painter who was a leading figure in the post-World War II art world. Born in Rotterdam, Netherlands, de Kooning emigrated to the United States in 1926 and eventually settled in New York City. He is best known for his gestural, impasto-laden paintings, which often feature abstracted figures, landscapes, and still lifes. De Kooning's work, with its bold and energetic brushwork, helped to define the abstract expressionist movement and influenced a generation of artists. His most famous works include the series of Women paintings, started in the 1950s, and his later abstract landscapes. De Kooning was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1985 and his work can be found in major art museums and collections worldwide.