Discussion Questions

Red Sea; The Swell; Blue Light

Philip Guston

April 2016

Philip Guston, Red Sea; The Swell; Blue Light, 1975; collection SFMOMA, purchase through the Helen Crocker Russell and William H. and Ethel W. Crocker Family Funds, the Mrs. Ferdinand C. Smith Fund, and the Paul L. Wattis Special Fund; © The Estate of Philip Guston

  1. What parts of this work immediately draw your eye?
  2. Why do you think the artist selected the triptych (three-part) format for this work?
  3. What mood has the artist created? What aspects of the work (color, line, shape, texture, size) make you say that?
  4. What do you think is going on in this painting? What do you see that makes you say that?
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