Gladiators

Guston painted Gladiators in a social-realist style favored by many left-leaning artists in the 1930s, a style that reflected in part the political and aesthetic influence of the Mexican muralist movement led by Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros. At the time he painted Gladiators, Guston was painting murals in New York as part of a Works Progress Administration (WPA) program. Hooded Klansmen first appeared in his work of the 1930s, in response to a Ku Klux Klan attack on one of his Los Angeles murals. Of these figures, Guston said, “They are self-portraits. I perceive myself as being behind the hood. … I almost tried to imagine that I was living with the Klan. What would it be like to be evil?”

Questions & Answers

Is there a factsheet about "Gladiators" by Philip Guston for students?

The Guide page of "Gladiators" by Philip Guston offers a printable two-sheet factsheet: the artwork with its identity table, a decade band placing it in the artist's lifetime, other works by the artist, the measured color palette, and ready-to-copy citations in four styles.

Does "Gladiators" by Philip Guston use strong contrasts or soft harmonies?

In "Gladiators", a bold contrast is paired with a balanced harmony harmony.

Who created "Gladiators"?

"Gladiators" was created by Philip Guston. The information on this page describes Philip Guston's original work.

Can I see an X-ray view of "Gladiators" by Philip Guston?

The X-Ray view of "Gladiators" by Philip Guston is on the artwork's X-Ray page: an interactive examination of the image through eleven optical layers.

How strong is the contrast in "Gladiators" by Philip Guston?

"Gladiators" by Philip Guston shows a bold contrast between its light and dark areas.

Where can I find statistics about "Gladiators" by Philip Guston?

The Stats page of "Gladiators" by Philip Guston presents public visit statistics: monthly visits of this artwork, a comparison with the artist's most viewed works, and where its visitors come from.

What luminance does "Gladiators" by Philip Guston have?

The colors of "Gladiators" show a soft shadow luminance.

At what age did Philip Guston make "Gladiators"?

Philip Guston was 27 years old when creating "Gladiators" in 1940. The age is computed from the artist's birth year, 1913.

By the TopImpressionists.com Editorial Team

Philip Guston (1913 – 1980)

Philip Guston (1913-1980) was a pivotal Canadian-American artist known for his evolution from Abstract Expressionism to raw, figurative art exploring racism, identity & political satire. A key figure in the New York School.

About this artwork

Title: Gladiators
Artist: Philip Guston
Year: 1940
Format: Landscape
Copyright status: Under copyright
Movement: Social Realism
Color palette: Earthy
Color hue: Golden Yellow Range