Summary of Jasper Johns: Contemporary American Art
Jasper Johns: Contemporary American Art - Analysis & Impact
Introduction
Jasper Johns is an American artist known for his cross-media practice, where printmaking and sculpture play a fundamental role in his artistic process. This material focuses on Johns's work in printmaking (especially lithography) and on the relationship between two- and three-dimensional works. The goal is to understand the techniques, processes, and concepts that led to his recurring motifs such as the flag, target, or cans.
Context and Foundational Principles
Multimedia Practice
Johns did not view media as hierarchical; the same iconography appears in painting, printmaking, drawing, and sculpture. This means that understanding his prints requires looking at the entirety of his work.
Definition: Lithography is a printmaking technique in which the artist draws with a greasy crayon or ink on a stone or metal plate; the image is then chemically treated and printed.
Repetition and 'Familiar Objects'
- Common motifs used: flag, target, maps, numbers, cans
- These motifs have a pre-established form; Johns uses them to shift attention from the recognition of the form to the manner of depiction and material presence.
Lithography in Jasper Johns' Work
Basic Process
- The artist draws directly onto the lithographic stone with a greasy crayon (tusche).
- The stone is chemically treated so that the greasy areas accept the printing medium.
- Printing then occurs on paper; the choice of paper and colors influences the final impression.
Definition: Tusche is a greasy crayon used for drawing directly onto the lithographic stone.
Variability of Results
- The same stone can lead to different results by varying: the type of paper, colors, layering of drawings, or by subtracting (removing) lines.
- Examples from auction listings: a series of flag lithographs (Flag One, Flag Two, Flag Three) — all produced from the same stone, differing in paper, color, and drawing. This illustrates the artist's decision-making process during printing.
Table: Comparison of Factors Influencing Lithography
| Factor | Influence on Final Print |
|---|---|
| Paper Type | Texture, absorbency, color tone |
| Ink Used | Saturation, contrast, atmosphere |
| Drawing Technique (adding/subtracting) | Line clarity, layering |
| Collage and Printing Elements | Depth, combination of two-dimensional and three-dimensional characteristics |
Practical Example: Transferring a Sculpture to Lithography
- Johns transferred a three-dimensional painted bronze sculpture (e.g., two cans) using various techniques onto a flat print.
- The result is a hybrid: the print contains printed areas, collage, drawing, and small impressions (e.g., fingerprints).
Sculpture and the Plane
Translating Space
- Converting a sculpture into a two-dimensional print is a process of 'translating' a three-dimensional form onto a plane: preserving its shape while simultaneously emphasizing its surfaces and layers.
- Johns used precise representations of sculptures to capture the material quality of the object on paper.
Definition: A hybrid, in an artistic context, refers to a work combining various techniques or media (e.g., print + collage + drawing).
Visual Details and 'Time Spent with the Work'
- Up-close details: fingerprints, individual layers of paper or drawing, minor imperfections — all contribute to the perception of the process.
- Johns required time from the viewer; his works are not an 'instant read,' but require observation to reveal the artist's decisions.
Conceptual Principles
Subject versus Image
- Johns emphasizes that his work is not merely a reproduction of the subject: „This is a work of art; this is not a flag.“ (the art object has autonomy over its referent)
- This approach prompts questions about symbolism, perception, and material engagement.
Analytical Methods and Practical Appli
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Johns - Printmaking and Sculpture
Klíčové pojmy: Johns frequently used recurring motifs: flags, targets, maps, numbers, and cans., Lithography involves drawing with a greasy crayon on a stone, followed by chemical treatment, and then printing onto paper., The same lithographic stone can yield diverse results by varying the paper and inks used., Johns combined printmaking, collage, and drawing to create hybrid works., Translating a sculpture into a graphic work requires adapting its three-dimensional form to a two-dimensional surface., Close observation reveals fingerprints and layers that document the artistic process., Analyzing a work of art: motif, material, technique, context, and interpretation., Practical exercises: comparing prints and translating an object into a collage., Printmaking is reproducible, whereas sculpture is often unique or produced in a limited edition., Johns emphasized the autonomy of the artwork, asserting that a work is not merely a representation.