The Princeton University Art Museum is presenting "Willem de Kooning: The Breakthrough Years," an exhibition revisiting the pivotal period from 1945-1950 that led to the artist's first solo show and established his reputation. The show features 18 paintings, including key works like *Black Friday* and *Dark Pond*, highlighting his intense exploration between figuration and abstraction with a restricted palette.
This exhibition matters because it focuses on the transformative half-decade when de Kooning matured into a leader of the New York school, setting the stage for his global acclaim. It underscores the critical role of his wife, Elaine, in managing his career and contextualizes his artistic development alongside contemporaries like Jackson Pollock, offering a concentrated look at the raw intensity that defined his breakthrough.