Winter [1/2 trial proof] 1989

This is a trial proof of 'Winter' by Jasper Johns, created with etching. Look closely, and you’ll see the textures that Johns coaxes from the metal plate, the delicate dance between ink and paper. It’s like watching a magician reveal his secrets, right? I’m drawn to the flat, dense areas of hatching, which create a palpable weight. The silhouette of the figure on the right is especially intriguing. Covered in dots, this figure feels both present and absent, like a ghost in the machine. The composition is a puzzle box of fragmented images. Is that a harness buckle, or some kind of strange headgear floating in the ether? Johns’s use of cross-hatching and varied line weights adds depth and mystery. This reminds me of the playfulness of Rauschenberg, another artist who isn’t afraid to push the boundaries of what art can be. What does it mean? Who knows. But that's part of the fun, right?