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Modern Masters Series #7
Jasper Johns
An enlightening new interpretation of one of today's most influential artists featuring over 100 illustrations
For more than thirty years Jasper Johns has been making art that teases viewers with the willful obscurity of its content, while offering rich visual pleasures with the beauty of its form, color, and surface. In 1955 he painted his first Flags , which, with the Target and Numbers that soon followed, were to become his most famous work. His transformation of such common place images into art helped to shatter the dominance of Abstract Expressionism and to make possible the later innovations of Pop art and Minimalism. Johns's acclaimed recent work, which is well represented in this book, combines his continuing fascination with ready-made images with an exciting new use of illusionistic painting.
About the Modern Masters
With informative, enjoyable texts and over 100 illustrations ― approximately 48 in full color ― this innovative series offers a fresh look at the most creative and influential artists of the postwar era. The authors are highly respected art historians and critics chosen for their ability to think clearly and write well. Each handsomely designed volume presents a thorough survey of the artist's life and work, as well as statements by the artist, an illustrated chapter on technique, a chronology, lists of exhibitions and public collections, an annotated bibliography, and an index. Every art lover, from the casual museum goer to the serious student, teacher, critic, or curator, will be eager to collect these Modern Masters . And with such a low price, they can afford to collect them all.
For more than thirty years Jasper Johns has been making art that teases viewers with the willful obscurity of its content, while offering rich visual pleasures with the beauty of its form, color, and surface. In 1955 he painted his first Flags , which, with the Target and Numbers that soon followed, were to become his most famous work. His transformation of such common place images into art helped to shatter the dominance of Abstract Expressionism and to make possible the later innovations of Pop art and Minimalism. Johns's acclaimed recent work, which is well represented in this book, combines his continuing fascination with ready-made images with an exciting new use of illusionistic painting.
About the Modern Masters
With informative, enjoyable texts and over 100 illustrations ― approximately 48 in full color ― this innovative series offers a fresh look at the most creative and influential artists of the postwar era. The authors are highly respected art historians and critics chosen for their ability to think clearly and write well. Each handsomely designed volume presents a thorough survey of the artist's life and work, as well as statements by the artist, an illustrated chapter on technique, a chronology, lists of exhibitions and public collections, an annotated bibliography, and an index. Every art lover, from the casual museum goer to the serious student, teacher, critic, or curator, will be eager to collect these Modern Masters . And with such a low price, they can afford to collect them all.
- GenresArt
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
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About the author
Richard Francis
148 books2 followers The idea for writing TEAM came after the 9/11 attacks when
search and rescue dogs were used to find victims and possible survivors in the rubble. Why not have a dog help find the hostages and rescue them with his handler. On hikes and walks I would carry a note book and write down ideas for the story. And of course my inspiration and co-worker LT. has been to all my booksignings and also signs the book.
search and rescue dogs were used to find victims and possible survivors in the rubble. Why not have a dog help find the hostages and rescue them with his handler. On hikes and walks I would carry a note book and write down ideas for the story. And of course my inspiration and co-worker LT. has been to all my booksignings and also signs the book.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 6, 2012
Jasper Johns is, by far, the most influential modern painter--for myself and my own painting work.
From the introduction:
YES!!! Johns doesn't paint "pretty" pictures, portraits, or standard landscapes with discernible fore- middle- and back-grounds. His pieces are, very often, complex studies that fold in on themselves, consistent to an internal artistic language of each piece, leaving the viewer with a sense that the piece(s) both present and answer specific questions. Each piece is a journey rather than a destination. His work is dense both in meaning (interpretation) and the way in which he works his materials.
His "Numbers" series of works remains one of my future must-haves should I ever be wealthy enough to afford an original Johns.
From the introduction:
"...Jasper Johns's art is generated by complex and difficult ideas, and these cannot be avoided.. We are seduced by the objects that Johns chooses to depict, ordinary, everyday things that appear unexpected or absurd as the subjects of this highly abstracted debate. ...The works are difficult to explain because they deal, often, with the problems specific to making paintings. They are, in that respect, technical, and their vocabulary is that of picture making and comparable with the language of scientific discourse."
YES!!! Johns doesn't paint "pretty" pictures, portraits, or standard landscapes with discernible fore- middle- and back-grounds. His pieces are, very often, complex studies that fold in on themselves, consistent to an internal artistic language of each piece, leaving the viewer with a sense that the piece(s) both present and answer specific questions. Each piece is a journey rather than a destination. His work is dense both in meaning (interpretation) and the way in which he works his materials.
His "Numbers" series of works remains one of my future must-haves should I ever be wealthy enough to afford an original Johns.
Displaying 1 of 1 review