Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is still under copyright. Philip Guston died in 1980; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it remains in force until 2050. The image is shown here for classroom reference; rights remain with the rights holder.
In context
The return — Philip Guston
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 67 at death.
Shaded: the lifetime of Philip Guston (1913–1980) every dated painting, decade by decade
First works: up to 1952 Main working years: 1952–1976 Late works: from 1976
Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them
This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/philip-guston-the-return-9HTKMU-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Espresso #515059
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 92.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 95 works by this artist, of which 22 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
Artist and museum
Born in Montreal, Canada
Born: Montreal, Canada (June 27, 1913)
Died: June 7, 1980
Philip Guston was a renowned Canadian-American painter and printmaker whose career spanned over four decades. His artistic journey is marked by significant shifts in style and subject matter, blending elements of abstract expressionism and representational art to explore complex themes of racism, antisemitism, fascism, and American identity.
Guston's early life was profoundly impacted by tragedy. His father, a Ukrainian Jewish immigrant, took his own life in 1923. This event deeply affected Guston’s artistic development. He began drawing at a young age and attended Los Angeles Manual Arts High School, where he started painting in 1927. Supported by his mother, he often created art in a small closet with a hanging bulb.
Education: Studied under Frederick John de St. Vrain Schwankovsky, who introduced him to European modern art, Eastern philosophy, Theosophy, and mystic literature.
Early Connections: Met Jackson Pollock, with whom he published a paper opposing the high school's policies.
Guston’s artistic career can be broadly divided into two distinct phases. Initially, his work was figurative and representational, showcasing early influences from Renaissance masters like Piero della Francesca. He later embraced abstraction, becoming a prominent figure in the New York School alongside artists like Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning.
Abstract Expressionism: By the 1950s, Guston achieved recognition for his abstract expressionist paintings, characterized by dynamic compositions and gestural brushwork.
Shift to Figuration: In the mid-1960s, he dramatically renounced abstraction, pioneering a modified form of representational art known as neo-expressionism. This shift was accompanied by a critical reevaluation of his earlier work and a desire to engage with more direct social and political commentary.
Guston’s later works are perhaps the most controversial and impactful of his career. These paintings often featured dark, satirical elements, including drawings of Richard Nixon and hooded Klansmen. He explored themes of racism, antisemitism, and American identity with a raw honesty that challenged conventional artistic norms.
Recurring Motifs: His late period is characterized by a limited palette and cartoonish renderings of various personal situations, symbols, and objects—often depicting figures with exaggerated features and unsettling expressions.
Influences & Themes: Influenced by his experiences with racism and antisemitism, as well as his interest in Eastern philosophy and mystic literature, Guston’s work became a powerful commentary on the darker aspects of American society.
Philip Guston's legacy continues to inspire artists and art enthusiasts alike. His unique perspective and artistic style have left an indelible mark on the world of art.
Key Figure: A prominent figure in the abstract expressionist movement, Guston’s work challenged established conventions and paved the way for new forms of artistic expression.
Museum Presence: His works are featured in prestigious museums worldwide, including the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Tate Modern.
Ongoing Relevance: The postponement of his international retrospective in 2020 underscored the ongoing relevance of Guston’s work in addressing issues of social justice and racial equality.
originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/philip-guston-the-return-9HTKMU-en/
Look closely
The return — Philip Guston
Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.
Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
The copyright status of "The return" - still protected by copyright - follows from the artist's death in 1980.
The color of "The return" is subtle color in saturation and monochromatic in intensity.
The diaporama of "The return" can be watched on the artwork's Diaporama page.