Paper

Student Artwork Guide

Merce Cunningham

Elaine de Kooning, 1962

Name Class Date
Elaine de Kooning, Merce Cunningham (1962). Reproduced for reference; rights reserved by the rights holder. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Elaine de Kooning topimpressionists.com/en/artists/elaine-de-kooning/
Artist’s dates
1918 – 1989
Painted
1962

Copyright This work is still under copyright. Elaine de Kooning died in 1989; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it remains in force until 2059. The image is shown here for classroom reference; rights remain with the rights holder.

Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 29, 2026

Merce Cunningham — Elaine de Kooning Part 1 · The artwork

In context

Merce Cunningham — Elaine de Kooning

When was this painted?

  1. 1910
  2. 1920
  3. 1930
  4. 1940
  5. 1950
  6. 1960
  7. 1970
  8. 1980

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 71 at death.

Painted when the artist was 44. The artist lived to 71. 5 of the 10 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Elaine de Kooning (1918–1989) ▲ this work, 1962 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1954 Main working years: 1954–1980 Late works: from 1980

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

  • Fairfield Porter, 1954 topimpressionists.com/en/art/elaine-de-kooning-fairfield-porter-D6FV4U-en/
  • Bacchus #3 topimpressionists.com/en/art/elaine-de-kooning-bacchus-3-D3Z5MU-en/
  • Bacchus #X, 1980 topimpressionists.com/en/art/elaine-de-kooning-bacchus-x-D6G42Q-en/

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/elaine-de-kooning-merce-cunningham-ARAC6N-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Gray #859882

    Catalogued palette

    • #859882
    • #DBDCD6
    • #29373B
    • #627A6A

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Neutrals The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Gray
    Intensity
    Monochromatic How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Statement How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Softly Mixed Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Brilliant How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Muted How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Elaine de Kooning over the last twelve months — 3 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 60.0%
    2. 2 Netherlands 20.0%
    3. 3 United States of America 20.0%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 6 most looked-at works by Elaine de Kooning

    1. 1 Elaine de Kooning Self Portrait, 1946 37.5%
    2. 2 Bacchus #X, 1980 25.0%
    3. 3 Fairfield Porter, 1954 12.5%
    4. 4 Willem de Kooning, 1952 12.5%
    5. 5 John F. Kennedy, 1963 12.5%
    6. — Merce Cunningham, 1962 this painting 0.0%

    Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 11 works by this artist, of which 5 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 29, 2026

    Merce Cunningham — Elaine de Kooning Part 2 · In context

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Elaine de Kooning

    Born in Brooklyn, United States of America

    Early Life and Education

    Born: Elaine Marie Catherine Fried, March 12, 1918, in Flatbush, New York

    Died: February 1, 1989, in Southampton, New York

    Parents: Mary Ellen O'Brien (Irish Catholic) and Charles Frank Fried (Protestant of Jewish descent)

    Early exposure to art through museum visits and painting reproductions.

    Attended Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn.

    Briefly attended Hunter College in New York City.

    Studied at the Leonardo da Vinci Art School and the American Artists School.

    Worked as an art school model to support herself.

    Relationship with Willem de Kooning and Artistic Development

    Met Willem de Kooning in 1938; he became her mentor and instructor.

    Married Willem de Kooning in 1943.

    Shared studio spaces throughout their relationship.

    Their marriage was characterized by an open relationship and mutual support for each other's careers, though also marked by personal struggles including alcoholism.

    Early work influenced by Cubism.

    Developed a distinctive style within the Abstract Expressionist movement.

    Promoted Willem de Kooning’s work throughout their career.

    Artistic Style and Major Works

    Style: Abstract Expressionism, Figurative Expressionism

    Known for energetic portraits and landscapes.

    Explored themes of bullfighting, basketball players, and mythological figures (Bacchus series).

    Commissioned portrait of John F. Kennedy – a significant achievement demonstrating her ability to capture character and energy.

    Later works drew inspiration from Paleolithic cave paintings (Cave Walls series).

    Often signed artworks with initials ("EdK") to avoid being categorized solely as a "woman artist" in the male-dominated Abstract Expressionist scene.

    Critical Reception and Historical Significance

    Active member of the Eighth Street Club, a key forum for discussing art ideas.

    Served as an editorial associate for Art News, writing insightful criticism on prominent artists.

    Her work is included in major museum collections (Museum of Modern Art, National Gallery of Art, Guggenheim Museum).

    While often overshadowed by her husband's fame, Elaine de Kooning made a significant contribution to American art as both a painter and critic.

    She provided an important perspective on the Abstract Expressionist movement, advocating for its importance while also exploring figurative subjects.

    Teaching Career and Later Years

    Taught at various institutions including Yale University and the Parsons New School for Design.

    Spent summers at the Hamptons with Leo Castelli.

    Reunited with Willem de Kooning in 1976 after a long separation.

    Continued to paint throughout her life, exploring new themes and techniques until her death on February 1, 1989.

    Where to read more

    • The artist Elaine de Kooning topimpressionists.com/en/artists/elaine-de-kooning/
    • Similar works More works to compare topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/elaine-de-kooning-merce-cunningham-ARAC6N-en/

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Merce Cunningham

    topimpressionists.com/en/art/download/elaine-de-kooning-merce-cunningham-ARAC6N-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Kooning, Elaine de. Merce Cunningham. 1962, https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/elaine-de-kooning-merce-cunningham-ARAC6N-en/
    APA
    Kooning, Elaine de (1962). Merce Cunningham [Painting]. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/elaine-de-kooning-merce-cunningham-ARAC6N-en/
    Chicago
    Elaine de Kooning. Merce Cunningham. 1962. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/elaine-de-kooning-merce-cunningham-ARAC6N-en/
    Harvard
    Kooning, Elaine de (1962) Merce Cunningham. Available at: https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/elaine-de-kooning-merce-cunningham-ARAC6N-en/

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 29, 2026

    Merce Cunningham — Elaine de Kooning Part 3 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    Merce Cunningham — Elaine de Kooning

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. How many faces can you find? ____ (our catalogue counts 1 — do you agree?)
    4. Look back at Fairfield Porter (1954), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. Elaine de Kooning was about 44 when this was made. What in it looks like the work of an artist at that stage?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 29, 2026

    Merce Cunningham — Elaine de Kooning Part 4 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    What are the author and date of "Merce Cunningham"?

    The author of "Merce Cunningham" is Elaine de Kooning, and the work is dated 1962.

    What saturation and intensity does "Merce Cunningham" by Elaine de Kooning show?

    The colors of "Merce Cunningham" by Elaine de Kooning show a muted saturation with a monochromatic intensity.

    Why is the copyright status of "Merce Cunningham" what it is?

    "Merce Cunningham" by Elaine de Kooning is still protected by copyright. Copyright duration runs from the artist's death, which occurred in 1989.