The Seasons (Summer) [11th state] 1987

Editor: Jasper Johns' "The Seasons (Summer) [11th state]" from 1987, is a mixed-media print dominated by collage and etching. The stark black and white palette, along with the strange imagery creates an unsettling, almost dreamlike feel. What can you tell me about it? Curator: What strikes me most is Johns' process. Note the way he uses established printmaking techniques, like etching, but destabilizes them. It isn't just about reproducing an image, it’s about the layering of process itself. Consider the American flag motif; how is its presence mediated through Johns' working methods and studio processes? Is it a symbol of national identity, or is he critiquing its mass production and consumption within culture? Editor: I hadn’t thought about it that way, but it’s clear these aren’t just passively included images. They're worked, re-worked, and presented through very deliberate printing and layering. So, the technique itself is a kind of commentary? Curator: Precisely! The ‘Summer’ season designation seems less about evoking nature and more about invoking cycles of production and repetition – the endless churning out and layering of imagery that defines contemporary culture. The "Mona Lisa" and ladder speak to different production approaches in art, raising further questions about how Johns saw himself situated among mass media and handmade techniques. Is the work more about making than representation? Editor: That's a powerful insight. I was so focused on deciphering the images, I missed how much the actual making of the work contributes to its meaning. I will keep the material properties of Johns' work in mind when analyzing similar artwork from now on. Curator: By paying close attention to Johns' handling of materials and processes, we uncover profound reflections on labor and consumption within the art world.