Untitled 1966

Curator: Immediately, I'm struck by the starkness of this work – the contrast between the dense black shapes and the white space around them creates a sense of unease. Editor: This is an untitled lithograph by Philip Guston, part of the Tate collection. While undated, it exemplifies his later style, where he grapples with political and personal demons through abstraction. Curator: The forms are amorphous, but there's a distinct sense of weight and oppression. Are these meant to be read as figures, perhaps reflecting on the social and political turmoil of the time? Editor: Absolutely. Guston’s work from this period is deeply engaged with the anxieties surrounding civil rights and the Vietnam War. The apparent simplicity is deceptive; the heavy forms symbolize the weight of these historical burdens. Curator: It’s a visceral, unflinching look at the artist's grappling with the world around him. The raw energy is palpable. Editor: Indeed, a powerful commentary on the human condition amidst socio-political strife.