Crosshatch 1989

This is Jasper Johns’ "Crosshatch," a print of indeterminate date. What I like about this print is the way Johns shows the process of art-making. The image is split down the middle, with distinct approaches to mark-making on either side. On the right, you have thick, vertical lines, almost like columns, while the left is a more complex field of crosshatching and a circular form. This side feels more layered, the lines creating depth. Johns is known for his exploration of familiar imagery, but here he's playing with abstraction and the very act of creating an image. The crosshatch marks build up, creating a physical texture that your eye can almost feel. Like Johns, Brice Marden also uses repetitive mark making, yet in a totally different way. In the end, art is about conversations and different strokes for different folks.