Winter [1/2 trial proof] 1989

This trial proof was made by Jasper Johns, but who knows when? The monochromatic palette gives it a serious, wintry vibe. I imagine Johns in his studio, wrestling with this image, layering and scraping away, trying to find the right balance. There's a figure, maybe, covered in spots, like falling snow, standing next to what could be a window, or a painting within a painting? It reminds me of some of Rauschenberg's layered imagery; they were good friends and must have bounced ideas off each other all the time! The texture is rough, like a winter landscape, but also intimate, like a page from a sketchbook. The marks feel hesitant, like the artist is searching for something, not quite sure what he'll find. That's what I love about painting, you know, it's not about having all the answers, it's about the questions you ask along the way.