Untitled (proof 1/3) 1988

This black and white proof print by Jasper Johns is a field of strange but familiar objects, laid out as if they are tiles. I imagine Johns in his studio, shuffling around these forms, re-arranging them, trying out different combinations. Look how the light catches on the surfaces. Is that a face? Is that an elbow? The forms are almost recognizable, but not quite. I can see him grappling with the image, reworking it, trying to find the right balance. The surface is alive with textures, each one suggesting a different mood. He's pushing and pulling the ink, searching for something just beyond the realm of language. Johns’ work has this in common with other artists, like Rauschenberg, for instance. They take everyday stuff, and put it through a strainer. What comes out the other side is strange, yet also so very, very human. And then that becomes part of our visual vocabulary, too. We are all in conversation.