The artwork titled “Pantheon,” created by Philip Guston in 1973, belongs to the Neo-Expressionism art movement and falls within the figurative genre.
The artwork features an abstract, somewhat surreal composition dominated by simple yet stark elements. A large white rectangular form, possibly representing a head or a simplified figure, is situated on the left side against a pastel pink background. This form is accentuated with green and brown vertical stripes, adorned with dots that create a ladder-like appearance. Notably, five prominent names of classical and Renaissance artists—Masaccio, Piero, Giotto, de Chirico, and Tiepolo—are inscribed across the canvas in various sizes and orientations. The names are executed in a hand-drawn font style, with some text in red and others in a more subtle tone, creating a whimsical yet reverent homage to these titans of art history. To the left, a lightbulb hangs by a black cord, introducing a modern element to the composition. The overall effect is a juxtaposition of the historical and the contemporary, rendered in Guston’s distinctive style that blends simplicity with profound conceptual depth.
