Philip Guston Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

American, 1913-1980

Philip Guston (1913–1980) was an influential American artist whose career evolved from social realism to abstract expressionism and finally to a unique form of figurative painting. Born in Montreal, Canada, to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents, Guston grew up in Los Angeles, where he was introduced to art and politics at a young age. His early years were marked by personal tragedy, including his father’s suicide, an event that profoundly influenced his later work. In the 1930s, Guston began his artistic career as a muralist under the Federal Art Project, inspired by the social realism of Mexican muralists like Diego Rivera. During this time, his work conveyed strong political and social messages, reflecting the struggles of the working class and the political tensions of the era. By the 1940s, Guston moved to New York, where he became associated with the burgeoning Abstract Expressionist movement alongside artists like Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning. His abstract works from this period were characterized by lush, painterly surfaces and a focus on emotional resonance. Despite his success as an Abstract Expressionist, Guston grew increasingly dissatisfied with abstraction’s limitations in addressing personal and societal concerns. In the late 1960s, he made a dramatic shift back to representational imagery, a move that shocked the art world. His later works incorporated cartoonish, symbolic figures—hooded Ku Klux Klan-like characters, shoes, lightbulbs, and disembodied heads—depicting themes of existential angst, political corruption, and personal reflection. These provocative images, such as in The Studio (1969), addressed racism, violence, and the complexities of human identity with biting humour and raw emotion. Critics initially derided Guston’s return to figuration, but his bold departure from abstraction ultimately cemented his legacy as a pioneering figure who challenged conventions and explored deeply personal and political themes. His work resonates with an unflinching honesty and continues to influence contemporary artists grappling with societal issues and the human condition. Guston died in 1980, leaving behind a body of work that defies categorization yet remains profoundly impactful. Today, he is celebrated as an artist who pushed boundaries and redefined what painting could be, inspiring generations with his fearless creativity and commitment to authenticity.

Artist: Philip Guston

Philip GustonElements, 1980

Elements

By Philip Guston

Located in San Francisco, CA

Philip Guston was born in 1913 in Montreal, Canada. He began painting at the age of 12, and in 1927 he enrolled in the Los Angeles Manual Arts High School , where both he and Jackson...

Category

1970s Modern Philip Guston Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Lithograph

Sleeping Girl - Lithograph - 19th century, 19th Century

H 5.12 in W 3.75 in D 0.04 in

Sleeping Girl - Lithograph - 19th century

Located in Roma, IT

Sleeping Girl is original lithograph realized by Anonymous Artist of the 19th Century. Good conditions. The artwork represents a sleeping girl in a wel...

Category

19th Century Modern Philip Guston Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Lithograph

Jean CocteauPortrait de Jean Desbordes - Lithograph by Jean Cocteau - 1929, 1929

H 10.63 in W 7.88 in D 0.04 in

Portrait de Jean Desbordes - Lithograph by Jean Cocteau - 1929

By Jean Cocteau

Located in Roma, IT

Lithograph on vélin pur fil des Papeteries du Marais, realized by Cocteau in 1929. Belongs to the suite "25 Dessins d'Un Dormeur", published by H. L. Mermod, Lausanne. Edition of 2...

Category

1920s Modern Philip Guston Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Lithograph

Hammond (artist)Art Deco lithograph design c. 1937 for Art School Brochure Hammond, 1937

H 8.47 in W 5.52 in D 0.04 in

Art Deco lithograph design c. 1937 for Art School Brochure Hammond

By Hammond (artist)

Located in London, GB

Hammond (British, fl. 1930s) Design for Municipal Art School Brochure 21.5x18 cm Lithograph drawn directly to stone, 1937 Sadly nothing is known of the life of the artist of this se...

Category

1930s Modern Philip Guston Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Lithograph

Algerian Man - Lithograph - 19th Century, 19th Century

H 9.06 in W 6.7 in D 0.04 in

Algerian Man - Lithograph - 19th Century

Located in Roma, IT

Algerian Man is an original hand-colored lithograph on paper realized by an Anonymous artist of the XIX century, it represents a standing algerian in his traditional costume with tur...

Category

19th Century Modern Philip Guston Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Lithograph

Die Cathedrale in Rouen - Original Lithograph - Mid-19th Century, Mid-19th Century

H 3.94 in W 5.52 in D 0.04 in

Die Cathedrale in Rouen - Original Lithograph - Mid-19th Century

Located in Roma, IT

Die Cathedrale in Rouen is an original modern artwork realized in the Mid-19th Century. Original B/W Lithograph on Ivory Paper. Inscripted on the lower central margin in Capital L...

Category

Mid-19th Century Modern Philip Guston Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Lithograph

Raffaele De GradaLandscape - Lithograph by Raffaele De Grada - Early 20th Century, Early 20th Century

H 9.45 in W 6.7 in D 0.04 in

Landscape - Lithograph by Raffaele De Grada - Early 20th Century

By Raffaele De Grada

Located in Roma, IT

Landscape is an original lithograph realized by Raffaele De Grada. The State of preservation is very good with very small folding along the margins. Signe o...

Category

Early 20th Century Modern Philip Guston Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Lithograph

Camille HilaireCamille Hilaire - Nature - Signed Original Lithograph, 1970s

H 19.3 in W 7.49 in D 0.04 in

Camille Hilaire - Nature - Signed Original Lithograph

By Camille Hilaire

Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH

Camille Hilaire - Nature Signed Original Lithograph Edition: 38 x 26 cm Framed Edition: 17/175 Camille Hilaire (1916-2004) Camille Hilaire began painting from a young age. At fif...

Category

1970s Modern Philip Guston Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Lithograph

Jean CocteauPortrait de Jean Desbordes - Lithograph by Jean Cocteau - 1929, 1929

H 10.63 in W 7.88 in D 0.04 in

Portrait de Jean Desbordes - Lithograph by Jean Cocteau - 1929

By Jean Cocteau

Located in Roma, IT

Lithograph on vélin pur fil des Papeteries du Marais, realized by Cocteau in 1929. Belongs to the suite "25 Dessins d'Un Dormeur", published by H. L. Mermod, Lausanne. Edition of 2...

Category

1920s Modern Philip Guston Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Lithograph

Jean CocteauHopeless - Lithograph by Jean Cocteau - 1930 ca, 1930 ca

H 11.42 in W 8.67 in D 0.04 in

Hopeless - Lithograph by Jean Cocteau - 1930 ca

By Jean Cocteau

Located in Roma, IT

Hopeless is a Colored lithograph realized on japan paper by Jean Cocteau (1889 -1963) in 1930 ca. French draftsman, poet, essayist, playwright, librettist, ...

Category

1930s Modern Philip Guston Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Lithograph

Calmucco - Original Lithograph Hand Watercolored - 19th Century, 19th Century

H 9.26 in W 5.52 in D 0.04 in

Calmucco - Original Lithograph Hand Watercolored - 19th Century

Located in Roma, IT

"Calmucco" (Asia) is an original hand-watercolor lithograph on ivory paper by Anonymous Artist of the 19th Century. Very good condition. Not signed. Titled on the lower center.

Category

19th Century Modern Philip Guston Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Lithograph

Correction Méritée - Original Lithograph - 1888, 1888

H 19.69 in W 13.78 in D 0.04 in

Correction Méritée - Original Lithograph - 1888

Located in Roma, IT

Correction Méritée is an original print artwork on paper realized by an Anonymous artist in 1888. Aged conditions with a cutaway on the top-right angle. The artwork was printed for...

Category

Late 19th Century Modern Philip Guston Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Lithograph

Leader of the Arab army - Original Watercolor Lithograph - 1848 ca., 1848 ca.

H 8.08 in W 6.11 in D 0.04 in

Leader of the Arab army - Original Watercolor Lithograph - 1848 ca.

Located in Roma, IT

Leader of the Arab army (Capo dell'armata Araba) is an original water-colored lithograph on paper realized in 1848 ca. by Anonymous Artist of the 19th Century. In very good conditio...

Category

19th Century Modern Philip Guston Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Lithograph

Philip Guston drawings and watercolor paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Philip Guston drawings and watercolor paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Philip Guston in lithograph and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 1970s and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Philip Guston drawings and watercolor paintings, so small editions measuring 43 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Reuben Nakian, Gershon Benjamin, and Wes Olmsted. Philip Guston drawings and watercolor paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $17,500 and tops out at $17,500, while the average work can sell for $17,500.

Artists Similar to Philip Guston

Gershon Benjamin

Shop All Gershon Benjamin Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

E. Simms Campbell

Shop All E. Simms Campbell Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

John Whorf

Shop All John Whorf Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Ivan Chermayeff

Shop All Ivan Chermayeff Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Reginald Marsh

Shop All Reginald Marsh Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Clarence Holbrook Carter

Shop All Clarence Holbrook Carter Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Maximilien Luce

Shop All Maximilien Luce Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

David Fredenthal

Shop All David Fredenthal Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Frank Wilcox

Shop All Frank Wilcox Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Questions About Philip Guston Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Is Philip Guston a contemporary artist?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Yes. Philip Guston, a Canadian American artist, is considered a contemporary artist. Contemporary art is generally defined as art produced during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Guston, who lived from 1913 to 1980, was a founding artist of the mid-century New York School movement and later helped pioneer the neo-expressionism movement. Shop a collection of Philip Guston art from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
What art movement is Philip Guston associated with?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Philip Guston is associated with two art movements. At the start of his career, his work reflected the characteristics of Social Realism, but he later shifted his focus to produce pieces that better fit the definition of Abstract Expressionism. You'll find a selection of Philip Guston art on 1stDibs.