Abstract Expressionism: An art movement that emerged post-WWII characterized by abstract artwork expressing emotions through non-traditional means such as gestural brushstrokes, color fields, and spontaneous drips.
Action Painting: A style within the Abstract Expressionist movement where paint is spontaneously dribbled, splashed or smeared onto the canvas, rather than being carefully applied. De Kooning's work often falls under this category.
Franz Kline: An American painter associated with the Abstract Expressionist movement of the 1940s and 1950s. Like de Kooning, he used bold strokes and high-contrast colors.