Untitled
1940
oil
canvas
From the collection of Museum of Modern Art
About the artist
Artist
Philip Guston
Philip Guston was a Canadian and American painter, printmaker, muralist and draftsman.
See the richer artist page1940
oil
canvas
From the collection of Museum of Modern Art
Untitled is a 1940 oil by Philip Guston, a American Folk Art work, held at Museum of Modern Art.
This painting shows two figures tangled in a chaotic scene. One person is slumped with a dog in a box, while the other stretches out awkwardly, holding a rope. Bright colors clash—reds, yellows, and blues—while sharp lines and odd shapes make everything look twisted. A drum hangs above, and a striped awning peeks out in the background. The artist flattened forms and used bold, flat colors instead of realistic shading. This makes the scene feel more like a dream or a joke than a normal picture. Try looking up impasto next to see how thick paint can change a painting’s mood.
Philip Guston was a Canadian and American painter, printmaker, muralist and draftsman.
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