Untitled (Blue) [1st state] 1982

Jasper Johns created this print, “Untitled (Blue) [1st state]”, using lithography on paper. The overlay of the words “RED,” “YELLOW,” and "BLUE" presented in monochrome creates an immediate tension. This subverts our expectations, prompting questions about how we assign meaning to both language and color. The composition, marked by a seemingly random array of brushstrokes and lines, initially feels chaotic, yet the underlying grid structure provides a sense of order. Here, Johns is deeply engaged with semiotics. The words act as signs, but their lack of corresponding color challenges the stability of the sign-signified relationship. Johns destabilizes established meanings. He invites us to consider how language and color interact, suggesting that our understanding is always mediated and never fixed. The layering and erasure within the print create a visual palimpsest, echoing the deconstructive ethos prevalent in post-structuralist thought. This is a space of endless interpretation, highlighting the fluidity of meaning itself.