Laying road plates, preparing for lifting, positioning the crane truck… Early Monday morning, 18 August, at 7 a.m., work began on temporarily removing the three bronze sculptures by Willem de Kooning from Hofplein. Due to the redevelopment of Hofplein, Seated Woman, Reclining Figure, and Standing Figure will be stored elsewhere. In 2027, they will be returned to the future green city square designed by landscape architects Juurlink and Geluk.
In 1984, the municipality of Rotterdam acquired Seated Woman (1969) by Willem de Kooning, which was placed on Hofplein, an important hub in the city. Thanks to support from funds and the efforts of then museum director Wim Beeren, the work was included in the Rotterdam sculpture collection. In honor of De Kooning’s 100th birthday (2004) and a retrospective at the Kunsthal (2005), CBK Rotterdam entered into a loan agreement with The Willem de Kooning Foundation, and Reclining Figure (1969-1982) and Standing Figure (1969-1984) were also added to the collection. Together, the three sculptures form a powerful ensemble at the beginning of the city boulevard.
Publicatiedatum: 18/08/2025
