Life with Bill

Elaine married Willem de Kooning on December 9, 1943, and they began living in an industrial loft that he had refurbished. He taught her to paint still lifes, and she also began drawing New York streetscapes and painting portraits. The de Koonings’ circle included photographer Rudy Burckhardt, poet and critic Edwin Denby, and painters Arshile Gorky and Joop Sanders. Scraping by with odd jobs—Elaine modeled, Bill worked on commercial art projects—the couple ate meals at cafeterias where artists congregated. Hunger was pervasive in those days, when no one’s work was selling. While Bill spent nights painting, Elaine preferred going out on the town. She had no interest in cooking or other “wifely” tasks, and was sometimes unfaithful. But they put a good face on their disagreements and both became active members of the Club, the artists’ gathering place, where Elaine’s vitality and intelligence took center stage.