Carborundum Experiment c. 1960s

Jasper Johns made this experimental print using carborundum, resulting in velvety blacks and grays. I can imagine him in the studio, pushing this stuff around, curious about what it can do. Look at the panels—they feel like different attempts, almost a testing of visual language. The handprints connect us directly to Johns; it's almost as if we're standing there with him, witnessing the act of creation. The textures vary—some areas are dense, some are more airy, almost ghostly, like the handprints rising from the surface. I love how Johns brings this openness to his process. It reminds me that art is not about answers, but a space of inquiry and exploration. He’s in conversation with artists like Rauschenberg, maybe even going back to Dada, all those folks pushing boundaries. Johns reminds us that art is a dialogue across time, where artists inspire each other to explore new possibilities.