Bacchus #27 by Elaine de Kooning

Another iconic relationship in art is that between Elaine and Willem de Kooning. They met while Elaine was still a student, and got married in 1943. They became critics and inspirations to each others painting, as we can see evidence of in their bold and expressive painting styles. Elaine and Willem kept an open relationship, even after marrying, and were casual about seeing other people outside of their marriage. The couple had a turbulent relationship, ending in them separating in 1957, but they found back to each other again in 1976.