Willem De Kooning's preserved studio-home in Springs, a small village on Long Island, New York, stands as a quiet sanctuary far from the world's noise. Nestled in nature, near the ocean, the house was built to reflect the artist’s personal vision and has been meticulously maintained by his family, who still live there. Inside, the space feels frozen in time, with brushes, paint pots, palettes, and color charts carefully arranged. Large canvases from his later years hang on the walls, and even a pair of stained shoes remain as a personal artifact. Outside, a bronze sculpture from his later period appears almost like a guardian figure in the garden, watching over the property. The house, though not open to the public, is occasionally visited by students, researchers, and artists studying De Kooning's work. Under the watchful eye of his granddaughter Lucy, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has recently opened the home to prepare for an exhibition celebrating the artist’s legacy. Born in Rotterdam, De Kooning became one of the key figures of the New York School of abstract expressionism, a movement that redefined American art in the 20th century. Though he arrived in the U.S. in 1926, he was not naturalized until 1962, nearly 40 years later. De Kooning’s early life was shaped by economic hardship. Forced to leave school in his youth to support his family, he worked in a decoration company, where he gained skills in painting, wood grain, and interior design. These skills later influenced his artistic practice. He studied at the Academy of Visual Arts and Technical Sciences in Rotterdam, where he developed a strong foundation in drawing. His early influences included Dutch impressionism, symbolism, and the works of Dostoevsky. Eventually, the call of the sea led him to leave for the U.S., where he would find his artistic voice. In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, De Kooning found work through Roosevelt’s New Deal programs, contributing to public art projects. He was part of the Federal Art Project, where he worked on murals and developed his skills. By the 1940s, his career and personal life were taking off. He married Elaine Fried, a fellow artist, and their relationship influenced his work, particularly his exploration of the human figure. His paintings from this time, marked by distorted forms and exaggerated features, sparked debate but reflected his desire to break away from traditional beauty. As his fame grew, he became a central figure in the New York School of abstract expressionism, with works acquired by institutions like the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Art Institute of Chicago. In the 1950s and beyond, De Kooning continued to evolve, experimenting with different styles and techniques. He moved to Springs, where he built a home that blended with the landscape, and continued painting until his death in 1997. His later works, influenced by his assistant Tom Ferrara, used a grid-based method to scale up his drawings. Despite being diagnosed with Alzheimer's, he remained committed to his art until the end. The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam will host an exhibition from October 9, 2026, to January 17, 2027, showcasing over 120 of his works, highlighting his creative process and the enduring influence of drawing in his art.