Drawings for Poets

Philip Guston (1913 – 1980), one of the most important American artists of the twentieth century, was continually on the lookout for opportunities to engage with literature. Close collaborations with writers, including William Corbett, Bill Berkson, and Clark Coolidge, resulted in numerous book illustrations and cover images. In his poem-pictures, Guston turned to creating interactions of texts and drawings. This book, which includes an essay by Bill Berkson, presents a fascinating symbiosis of word and image.