The artwork titled “Inscapes: Words and Images” was created by the artist Philip Guston and falls under the Neo-Expressionism art movement. This piece is categorized as a poster and belongs to the “Cyclops” series.
The artwork presents a synthesis of visual and literary elements, set against a muted pink background. Dominating the composition is a stylized Cyclops, characterized by its singular eye and exaggerated features. The figure is rendered in a mosaic-like pattern of red and white lines, with a large head and an index finger extended, pointing upwards. To the right of the Cyclops, a small depiction of the moon is positioned against the flat backdrop. Below the central image, an excerpt from Stanley Kunitz’s poem “Vita Nuova” is inscribed in elegant cursive handwriting. The text reads:
“Moon of the soul accompany me now,
Shine on the colosseums of my sense,
Be in the tabernacles of my brow,
My dark will make, reflecting from your stones,
The single beam of all my life intense.”
Above the central visual, the title of the event, “INSCAPES: Words & Images,” is prominently displayed in capital letters, along with the event details “A CITY-WIDE FESTIVAL – WASHINGTON, D.C. – 1976-7”. The composition as a whole features a harmonious interplay of word and image, reflecting the Neo-Expressionist emphasis on personal narrative and emotional intensity.
