Flagstones and Flagstones [trial proof 1/5] 1976

Editor: This is Jasper Johns' "Flagstones and Flagstones [trial proof 1/5]" from 1976, a drawing and collage using graphite and print. It's quite striking in its starkness, a very deliberate study in texture and pattern. What do you see in this piece? How does it fit into Johns' broader artistic practice? Curator: It’s tempting to view Johns solely through the lens of pop art, given his famous flags and targets. However, looking at this “Flagstones” print through a historical lens, we can see a different side. The seemingly mundane subject matter points towards a deep engagement with everyday life – a very democratic theme, reminiscent of early 20th-century realism. Editor: Democratic how? Curator: Well, consider that flagstones are quite common. They are everywhere. This print isn't glorifying celebrity culture or mass-produced goods. Instead, it asks us to consider the artistry in the ordinary. Moreover, it's a *print*. Think about the accessibility implied by printmaking! Does the split composition suggest anything to you? Editor: I hadn't thought of the split like that. Perhaps it points to different modes of seeing the everyday? Curator: Precisely! It encourages the viewer to question not just *what* we see, but *how* we see it and how that has been influenced by how art has framed the world and vice versa. So, by elevating the common to art, and mass-producing it at the same time, does it reflect a change in the cultural view of art as a singular treasure, perhaps? Editor: That makes sense. It reframes art as a communal, accessible, and shared experience, which makes me appreciate it much more. Thanks! Curator: Exactly, and that makes it something for us all. A pleasure!