Decoy [trial proof]

1971

Jasper Johns

Associated Names
Jasper Johns

Artist, American, born 1930

Bill Goldston

Printer, American, active late 20th century

James V. Smith

Printer, American, active late 20th century

Zigmunds Priede

Printer, American, born Latvia, 1935-2024

Steve Anderson

Printer, American, active late 20th century

Universal Limited Art Editions

Publisher

The image features bold black shapes and fluid lines across the canvas. Broad strokes of black form asymmetrical contours framing the center. Scattered letters are visible within the negative space, appearing to float and overlap. The contrast between the dark areas and the lighter central space invites comparisons to shadowy cliffs or tunnels against a misty sky, with the letters evoking remnants of ancient ruins or underwater archaeological sites.
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Artwork overview

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

the artist, Sharon, Connecticut; acquired 2006 by the National Gallery of Art

Associated Names

Bibliography

1978

  • Field, Richard S. Jasper Johns: Prints 1970-1977. Middletown, Connecticut: Wesleyan University Press, 1978, no.

1994

  • Field, Richard S. The Prints of Jasper Johns, 1960-1993: A Catalogue Raisonné. West Islip, New York: Universal Limited Art Editions, 1994, no. 98.

Inscriptions

in graphite, lower left: 1/2 TRIAL PROOF 2ND ELEMENT ON JAPAN PAPER; lower right: J Johns '67

Markings

blind stamp: [chop of Universal Limited Art Editions]

Wikidata ID

Q76345247

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