As a woman and as an artist, Elaine de Kooning broke many rules. She was outspoken, had a sharp wit, and reportedly could drink many men under the table. An art critic known for her independent thinking and eloquent writing, she was a staunch defender of Abstract Expressionism. Yet in her own paintings, she continued to represent figures. Bacchus #46 belongs to a series inspired by “the churning, writhing movement” of a statue in the Luxemburg Gardens in Paris. Her bold strokes and vibrant colors evoke the energy de Kooning saw in the sculpture.

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