Two Books Explore Philip Guston's Literary and Visual Legacy
Two publications from the University of California Press, released in 2010-2011, delve into Philip Guston's relationship with both language and visual art. In 'Telling Stories: Philip Guston’s Later Works,' David Kaufmann scrutinizes Guston's last decade, emphasizing his transition from abstraction to narrative during the art movements of the late 1960s. Kaufmann interprets Guston's break and his drawings as 'visual puns' that led to the creation of his hooded figures, likening his departure from convention to the style of Philip Roth. Meanwhile, Clark Coolidge's 'Philip Guston: Collected Writings, Lectures and Conversations,' edited by Dore Ashton, gathers Guston's reflections from his WPA murals to his later years, featuring discussions with notable figures like Bill Berkson, Harold Rosenberg, and David Sylvester, shedding light on his artistic journey, Jewish heritage, and influences such as Walter Benjamin.
Key facts
- Philip Guston: Collected Writings, Lectures and Conversations was edited by Clark Coolidge and published by University of California Press in 2011.
- Telling Stories: Philip Guston’s Later Works by David Kaufmann was published by University of California Press in 2010.
- Guston's 1970 Marlborough Gallery show featured hooded figures, marking a break from abstraction.
- Guston collaborated with poets and engaged deeply with language throughout his career.
- Kaufmann analyzes Guston's work in the context of late 1960s art movements like Pop and Minimalism.
- Coolidge's compilation includes conversations with Bill Berkson, Harold Rosenberg, and David Sylvester.
- Guston's later works were compared to Samuel Beckett's absurdist dramas by critics.
- Kaufmann explores Guston's Jewish identity and its influence on his art, referencing Philip Roth and others.
Entities
Artists
- Philip Guston
- Clark Coolidge
- David Kaufmann
- Scott McCloud
- Dore Ashton
- Bill Berkson
- Harold Rosenberg
- David Sylvester
- Mondrian
- Rothko
- Samuel Beckett
- Walter Benjamin
- Philip Roth
- Piero della Francesca
- Newman
Institutions
- University of California Press
- Marlborough Gallery
- Yale Norfolk