Green Angel 2 Experimental Lithos [trial proof] 1994

Jasper Johns made this lithograph, "Green Angel 2 Experimental Lithos," using a printmaking process rooted in skilled craft traditions. Lithography involves drawing on a stone or metal plate with a greasy substance, then applying ink, which adheres only to the drawn areas. The matrix is then pressed onto paper, transferring the image. This particular print is a 'trial proof' meaning it's an impression taken to check the state of the plate and allow the artist to make adjustments. The flat planes of color and visible texture reveal the hand of the artist in the making process. Johns's work often blurs the line between fine art and commercial reproduction. Through his embrace of printmaking, he elevates a traditionally 'lower' medium to the realm of high art, prompting us to consider the labor involved in both artistic creation and industrial production.