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This section introduces lithographic versions of four of the six motifs in 1st Etchings,
2nd State—Ale Cans, Flag, 0 through 9, and Light Bulb. The first three are
presented in their initial printed versions. Flag I and 0 through 9 are among Johns’
earliest prints, and they reveal his experimental vigor as he undertook a new process,
using lithographic crayon to draw the linear 0 through 9 
0 through 9, 1960
National Gallery of Art, Rosenwald Collection.
Art © Jasper Johns/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY and a liquid
ink called tusche to create rich washes in Flag I. Although this section presents
early print versions of these objects, Johns had already been exploring these
motifs in other media: Flag first appeared in a 1954–1955 painting; Light Bulb and
0 through 9 appeared in drawings of 1957 and 1959–1960, respectively (although
numerals organized as a grid date even earlier); and Ale Cans was introduced
as sculpture in 1960, in both plaster and painted bronze versions. Flashlight
and Paint Brushes, first made as sculpture in 1958 and 1960, respectively, are not
represented in this section. They entered Johns’ print oeuvre in the 1968
portfolio entitled 1st Etchings, which preceded 1st Etchings, 2nd State.
