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Philip Guston Quotes

Painter

Philip Guston was an influential American painter known for his unique style and contributions to modern art. His works combined elements of Abstract Expressionism and Surrealism, showcasing profound emotions and complex themes.

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All Painting Paint Canvas Art Artist Feels Form Ifs Thinking Seems Certain Desire Hands Happens Knows Moving Painter States Studios Disappear

Famous Philip Guston Quotes

“We are image-makers and image-ridden... We work until we vanish.”

Artist Makers

Author:Philip Guston

“Many works of the past complete what they announce they are going to do, to our increasing boredom. Certain others plague me because I cannot follow their intentions. I can tell at a glance what Fabritius is doing, but I am spending my life trying to find out what Rembrandt was up to.”

Trying I Can Past Artist Certain Intention Spending Boredom Glances Plague

Author:Philip Guston

“The canvas is a court where the artist is prosecutor, defendant, jury and judge. Art without a trial disappears at a glance.”

Art Artist Judging Court Disappear Trials Canvas Glances Jury Prosecutor

Book:Philip Guston: Collected Writings, Lectures, and Conversations

Source: Philip Guston: Collected Writings, Lectures, and Conversations

“Lots of artists who paint have the experience to one degree or another... where their thinking doesn't precede their doing... It's a funny thing, what I really hate yet I have to go through with it, is the preparation.”

Thinking Artist Hate Degrees Paint Preparation Funny Things

Author:Philip Guston

“But you begin to feel as you go on working that unless painting proves its right to exist by being critical and self-judging, it has no reason to exist at all - or is not even possible. The canvas is a court where the artist is prosecutor, defendant, jury and judge. Art without a trial disappears at a glance.”

Feels Art Self Reason Artist Painting Judging Goes On Prove Court Critical Disappear Trials No Reason Canvas Glances Jury Prove It Prosecutor

Author:Philip Guston

“If the artist starts evaluating himself, it’s an enormous block, isn’t it?”

Ifs Artist Enormous Block

Author:Philip Guston

“Painting is an illusion, a piece of magic, so what you see is not what you see. I don't know what a painting is; who knows what sets off even the desire to paint? It might be things, thoughts, a memory, sensations, which have nothing to do directly with painting itself. They can come from anything and anywhere.”

Knows Might Desire Artist Memories Pieces Magic Painting Illusion Paint Sensations

Book:Philip Guston: Collected Writings, Lectures, and Conversations

Source: Philip Guston: Collected Writings, Lectures, and Conversations

About the Author

Born: June 27, 1913
Died: June 7, 1980
Known for: Painter
Quotes: 48

Books & Sources

Philip Guston: Collected Writings, Lectures, and ConversationsRelated source material

Philip Guston, 1975-1980: Private and Public BattlesRelated source material

The drawings of Philip GustonRelated source material

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