Untitled (White Mezzotint) [working proof with acrylic additions] 1995

This working proof by Jasper Johns is made with mezzotint and acrylic additions. It’s all about process, right? You can see the history of changes, a ghost of the artist's hand. The color is really muted, almost ghostly, with a pale gray that feels like a memory. The surface has this incredible texture, like velvet rubbed smooth with a stone. Look closely at the eyes in the square - they have a haunting quality. The blank stare and simple lines feel vulnerable. Johns does this thing where he lets you see everything – the underpainting, the revisions, the whole archaeology of the image. It’s like he's saying, “Here’s how I did it, but you still can’t quite grasp it.” Johns always keeps you guessing. You could almost see some Schwitters in this piece. Like them, he isn't trying to give you answers, but to provoke questions.