Willem de Kooning
American, born The Netherlands, 1904
Excavation
1950
Oil on canvas
206.2 x 257.3 cm
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Noah Goldowsky and Edgar Kaufmann Jr.; Mr. and Mrs. Frank G. Logan Prize Fund, 1952.1

When you first look at this painting, it appears to be entirely abstract, but look again! Can you see jaws and necks, bird and fish shapes, as well as eyes, teeth, and noses? 

The title, Excavation, could mean many things. It might refer to the way archaeologists dig into the earth to find bones and objects from ancient peoples. It may also refer to the way the artist worked, spending months building up and scraping down layers of paint on his canvas. And it may mean that the viewer has to “dig deep” to understand this painting.