Wed, 02/28/2007 - 1:30pm

For anyone who is a Jasper Johns aficionado, this is a wonderful exploration of a very specific moment in the body of Johns’ work. The show, organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, does exactly what it sets out to do –to explore, through some 80+ works, a handful of specific themes which occur in the work of Jasper Johns during the period between 1955 and 1965.

The first of these themes is the target. This introductory section of the show showcases the iconic images of Johns’ target phase and boosts many wonderful large format oils alongside sketches Johns used as guidelines during this infamous period of his artistic exploration. Some of the highlights here include probably his most famous from this time, “Target with Plaster Casts” (1955) in which plaster casts of various human body parts in a rainbow of colors, are displayed above a yellow and blue target in a frieze-like manner. There is also a rather charming do-it-yourself version of the famous target motif which includes a blank drawing of a target, a paint brush and the three brightly colored paints (in red, blue and yellow) needed for one to make their own Jasper Johns target painting.

The show then brings into incorporation with the target, a more involved motif explored by Johns at this time – the use of words, specifically, the words for colors such as: “Yellow”, “Red”, “Blue”, “Orange” and “Grey”, juxtaposed on canvases which are ridden with splotchy color patterns. This “False Start” series is at times narrative and at times ironic as some of the larger works which incorporate words such as “Yellow” or “Red” are painted fully in grey scale.

The next feature as you move to the upstairs gallery space is Johns’ famous “Device” series in which we see Johns incorporating the “process” element – an element which Johns would continue to explore throughout his career. Although chronologically, this series is placed correctly in the show, its effect may have been superior had it been placed next to the “target” series because of the direct link which Johns makes between these two ideas. Much of the device series includes a “device” similar to that which Johns would have used in creating the concentric circles of his many targets. This ruler like device was also used by Johns as a means of a “scraper” – a flat tool used by an artist to “scrape” away paint from the canvas. From these more cerebral works one is able to see Johns’ intrigue with the idea of process in his art work. The focus on color and form are now secondary to the fascination with tools and their mechanics. Here we begin to see Johns’ ideas of art as a mechanical process and the artist as master of the application of process rather than a fully creative being.

Before reaching the final gallery space, there is a break in the exhibition which features large photos of Johns working in his studio. These photos depict the serious nature of Johns, who is never photographed smiling, but is instead shown intensely at work in his barren studio space. The remainder of the exhibit displays for us some large scale works which are a culmination of the themes explored thus far in the show. The larger pieces are less focused and incorporate new icons, such as furniture while still prominently showcasing ideas seen in his “target”, “false start” and “device” series. Of the final group of works, the one I found most interesting was Johns’ “Study for Skin I” (1962) in which Johns renders the nuances of the human hand though a delicate and attentive ink drawing.

Overall the show is a unique glimpse into the early work of Jasper Johns. The pieces in the show are consistently interesting and thoughtful and the focus is linear and easy to follow. The show lacks in its effort to place these works in the context of post-war American art or any historical context whatsoever for that matter, however the art is interesting enough in itself to sustain the audience’s attention. If you are a Johns enthusiast this is certainly a show worth seeing. If you know little to nothing about the artist, this show may serve as a good introduction but should in no way be thought to be representative of the whole of Johns’ work.

This show is running through April 29, 2007 and is in the upper level of the East Wing of the National Gallery at 4th Street and Constitution Ave. NW. This show is free and the Gallery is open Mon. – Sat. 10am to 5pm and Sundays 11am to 6pm.

About the author
Yasmin Tasan has been living in Washington, DC since 2001. She studied art history in college and is committed to furthering her understanding of fine art through the exploration of the many unique and interesting shows and exhibits Washington continually offers. When not roaming the halls of a museum you can most likely find her exploring a new or favorite restaurant with friends, running in Rock Creek Park or making a fool of herself at Bikram yoga.

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• Arts