The Seasons [1/2 proof of cut plate "Summer"] 1990

This is Jasper Johns' "The Seasons," a proof of a cut plate from his "Summer" series. It’s hard to pin down when it was made because, you know, proofs are part of a process, not a final thing. Johns has this incredible way of making marks that feel both deliberate and accidental. Here, the etching is like a dance between control and chaos. Look at that figure – is it a ghost, a memory, or just a shape? The ladder is a nice touch. The physicality of the piece is everything. The etched lines have a subtle texture, and the varying greys create a delicate, almost melancholic mood. There's a section over near the hand where you can see how the plate wasn’t fully inked, leaving a ghostly impression. It's like the image is trying to escape. Johns always seems to be in conversation with other artists, and this feels like a nod to both Rauschenberg and Duchamp. It reminds us that art is just one big, beautiful, messy conversation.