Philip Guston
Philip Guston
#### A Life of Artistic Expression and Social Commentary
Philip Guston was a renowned Canadian-American artist known for his expressive paintings that blended elements of abstract expressionism with bold figurative forms. His work continues to be celebrated for its raw emotional power and thought-provoking commentary on the human condition.
Full Name and Common Aliases
Born Philip Howard Guston, he is often referred to as Phil or simply Guston.
Birth and Death Dates
February 26, 1913 – June 7, 1980
Nationality and Profession(s)
Canadian-American painter, printmaker, and educator. Guston's nationality was a subject of debate due to his birth in Canada but later adopting American citizenship.
Early Life and Background
Guston was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to Jewish immigrant parents from Ukraine. His early life was marked by poverty and turmoil, with the family struggling to make ends meet during World War I. This difficult childhood would later influence Guston's art, which often explored themes of social justice and the human condition.
In 1927, at the age of 14, Guston immigrated to the United States with his family. He settled in Woodstock, New York, where he began studying painting under the tutelage of Max Weber. This exposure to modernist art would have a profound impact on Guston's development as an artist.
Major Accomplishments
Guston's artistic career spanned over five decades, during which he produced a diverse range of work that defied categorization. Some of his most notable accomplishments include:
Early abstract expressionism: In the 1940s and 1950s, Guston was part of the New York School of abstract expressionist painters, alongside artists such as Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock.
Figurative painting: In the late 1960s, Guston began to shift his focus towards figurative painting, producing works that often featured everyday people and objects in a raw, unvarnished style.
Printmaking: Guston was also an accomplished printmaker, experimenting with various techniques to create bold, expressive prints.Notable Works or Actions
Some of Guston's most notable works include:
"The Studio" (1956): A painting that showcases Guston's early abstract expressionist style.
"Untitled (Lena)" (1969): A seminal work from Guston's figurative period, featuring a woman in a domestic setting.
"The Last Works" (1970s-1980s): A series of paintings that marked Guston's return to figural subjects.
Impact and Legacy
Guston's impact on modern art is immeasurable. His work continues to inspire artists, from the abstract expressionists of the 1940s and 1950s to contemporary painters exploring themes of social justice and identity.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Philip Guston's legacy extends far beyond his art. He was a passionate advocate for artistic freedom and a vocal critic of conformity in the art world. His commitment to expressing the complexities of human experience continues to resonate with audiences today, making him one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century.
Quotes by Philip Guston
The canvas you are working on modifies the previous ones in an unending, baffling chain which never seems to finish. What sympathy is demanded of the viewer? He is asked to ‘see’ the future links.
All these troubles revolve around the irritable mutual dependence of life and art – with their need and contempt for one another. Of necessity, to create is a temporary state and cannot be possessed...
I feel more as if I’m shaping something with my hands. I feel as if I’ve always wanted to get to that state. Like a blind man in a dark room had some clay, what would he make? I end up with 2 or 3 forms on a canvas, but it gets very physical for me.
That’s what I mean by something grips in a canvas. The moment that happens you are then sucked into the whole thing. Like some kind of rhythm.
What is seen and called the picture is what remains – an evidence. Even as one travels in painting toward a state of ‘unfreedom’ where only certain things can happen, unaccountably the unknown and free must appear.
I’m not interested in painting; I’m not interested in making a picture. Then what the hell am I interested in? I must be interested in this process.
Painting and sculpture are very archaic forms. It’s the only thing left in our industrial society where an individual alone can make something with not just his own hands, but brains, imagination, heart maybe.
There’s some mysterious process at work here, which I don’t even want to understand.
Look at any inspired painting. It’s like a gong sounding; it puts you in a state of reverberation.
In my experience a painting is not made with colors and paint at all. I don’t know what a painting is; who knows what sets off even the desire to paint?