Philip Guston: A Life Spent Painting

One of the finest art books I have encountered recently. Was not that familiar with Guston. . . and now I can say I'm deeply devoted. FYI - the greatest coffee table book I've owned in the last 50 years. Typical response = "Oh, I've heard of him. This is very impressive. Oh my, it's so heavy." And then they open it up and disappear into it. I don't think I've ever owned a book that impressed people so much. And it is truly impressive in every way - a work of art in its own way.

Philip Guston is an artist that I have grown to appreciate more and more. This book covers his entire career and clearly shows how his style changed and matured over his lifetime. It also does a very good job of explaining the evolution of his style and the major themes that he confronted with his paintings and drawings. Not only did his work comprise a political editorial on the subjects, such as racism and authoritarianism, that concerned him, but also took a very hard look at his own latent prejudices decades before current ideas of white privilege emerged. Furthermore, he managed to emerge from the abstract expressionism that was the "thing" , and return to a figurative style that retained all the compositional power of his earlier abstractions. An artist both of his times, and ahead of them.

This is a great book on the life and art of Philip Guston. Well worth adding to your collection of books on Guston, even if you have Storr's earlier book or other books about Guston. Wonderful illustrations.

This is an amazing book for the quality of the reproductions which are big and beautiful,. There are many paintings that I haven't seen reproduced anywhere else.

I am so glad I have it. I will be back with the completed review and photos soon. Be sure and see the video another reviewer has posted, he is right, this is the DEFINITIVE book on Philip Guston with focus on his late work! The price has dropped a bit, now may be the best time to buy.

Literally. This book is huge and very heavy. Belongs in the reference section of a library! But, it's in my house on a reading stand just off the hallway. I turn the pages every few days and walk past it.to be continued....

I am giving it 5 stars although I have seen much of the content before as am an avid Phillip Guston top fan and have most of any book about him . After flicking through I was hoping for more of his later works that have not been seen before in books. Any new drawings anything will do. On a flick I can see three new pieces I have not seen before. Surely he has done more? I haven't started reading the book yet and hope it is different to other books content that I have on him. Its not a book you can take to bed as its heavy and big but saying that it means you get a bigger picture. I am pleased with the book and love the front cover. I would love a poster to hang in my room of his stuff. Maybe though I can now cut up some of my other books I have on and put them on my wall. I was so looking forward to seeing his exhibition in London. Darn this virus.

A present fir my husband who loves this artist. Very good images.

un libro bastante completo de la pintura de Guston, lamentablemente la parte de dibujo se ve sublevada con imágenes muy pequeñas que no permiten apreciar de igual manera como las imágenes de la pintura.un libro que vale mucho la pena comprar.

Es handelt sich um eine ausführliches Buch über Leben und Werk des bedeutenden amerikanischen Malers Philip Guston, mit zahlreichen Abbildungen, Fotos und Texten, wunderschön in der Aufmachung, im großen Format, vielleicht das schönste Buch über Guston, und ich habe viele davon. Ich bin begeistert! Ich kann das Buch unbedingt weiterempfehlen!

The R. Storr scholarhip and writing is excellent and his analysis is both profound and readable. Any reader will see why Guston is, and will for a long time to come, represent the best in American and international art.