Painter S Forms No 2 1978Poster con cornice

Painter S Forms No 2 1978 shows loose, looping shapes stacked in a column, painted with the thick, blunt strokes Philip Guston used in his late years. Muted pinks, greys and a dull red sit against a paler ground, so the darker forms pull forward and the lighter ones recede.

A framed poster gives the picture a firm border. The white frame keeps the pale ground open, while the dark wood frame holds the heavier marks in place.

In a stairwell, the shapes read as a stack of soft blocks climbing beside the steps. Passing them each day, you notice the red form first and the grey loops after.