Phillip Guston’s Nixon Drawings - Poor Richard

We haven’t been to the National Gallery of Art for a while. So when we drove in to town last week we stopped by. This, after a morning walk through the Capitol grounds. There are a few new exhibits and it appears as though the main gallery is getting a makeover, as you can’t exit the front steps and many of the classic art pieces like Napoleon are now on the lower level. Two of the new exhibits are two galleries featuring Phillip Guston. I don’t know much about him, but we are always interested to see whatever there is to see. So we asked the information desk which way to head and ended up in the east building in the Poor Richard gallery. Apparently Mr. Guston had a real dislike for Richard Nixon and it is plain as day in the drawings that are on display. They are described as irreverent, derisive, and even vulgar created to shock, delight and offend. You are also advised that the gallery contains depictions of anti-Black and anti-Asian racism. I can’t say that I was very impressed with this sort of thing but we always feel compelled to pass through - quickly. I much prefer the grand master impressionists and watercolors. Perhaps his other collections will be more engaging.