Untitled (Purple Mezzotint) [trial proof A] 1995

This is a mezzotint proof by Jasper Johns, and right away you get that feeling of something being pulled out of the dark, like a memory or a secret. Look at how he’s worked the surface – it's all about texture, a kind of velvety darkness achieved by roughening the plate, then smoothing out areas to create the image. It's a backwards process, working from dark to light. See how the rectangle in the center seems to float forward, but at the same time, is totally enmeshed within the darkness, the weave of the fabric almost palpable. It reminds me of Johns’ interest in everyday objects, things we see but don't always notice, turning them into something mysterious and profound. Johns' work has this ongoing dialogue with art history. Think of the shadowy, dreamlike quality of Odilon Redon, or the way he elevates the mundane like the Pop artists. Ultimately, it’s about the process of seeing, questioning what we think we know, and finding beauty in the unexpected.