Cicada II [trial proof]

1981

Jasper Johns

Associated Names
Jasper Johns

Artist, American, born 1930

Simca Print Artists

Publisher

Kenjiro Nonaka

Printer, Japanese, active second half 20th century

Hiroshi Kawanishi

Printer, Japanese, active second half 20th century

Takeshi Shimada

Printer, Japanese, active second half of 20th century

The image displays an intricate pattern of angled line clusters arranged in a rectangular formation, resembling a complex mosaic of overlapping zigzag stripes. The abstract composition uses colors such as red, blue, yellow, green, orange, and purple, creating a pile of colorful, striped cards. Each line cluster forms a structure that appears akin to haphazardly stacked sticks or the inside of a kaleidoscope, providing a sense of movement and depth to the image. The chaotic yet orderly nature evokes the appearance of a vibrant woven tapestry or a patchwork quilt, where each segment fits into a larger, cohesive design.
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Artwork overview

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

the artist, Sharon, Connecticut; acquired 2008 by the National Gallery of Art

Associated Names

Bibliography

1994

  • Field, Richard S. The Prints of Jasper Johns, 1960-1993: A Catalogue Raisonné. West Islip, New York: Universal Limited Art Editions, 1994, no. 214.

Inscriptions

in graphite, lower left: TRIAL PROOF; J Johns '79

Watermarks

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Wikidata ID

Q76439903

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