The Seasons [1/2 proof of cut plate "Fall" and 3 figures] 1990

Editor: We’re looking at Jasper Johns’ “The Seasons [1/2 proof of cut plate "Fall" and 3 figures],” created in 1990 using ink. I’m really struck by how spare and fragmented it feels, almost like a memory fading at the edges. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The fragmented nature is key, isn't it? The geometric shapes combined with the crude figures become potent symbols when viewed through time. Johns is, in effect, building a visual language, one that reflects a contemporary relationship to history, art history in particular. Consider the primitive stick figures alongside the half proof above it... do these remind you of any cave paintings or early human representations? Editor: Yes, I see the resemblance to cave paintings now that you mention it! I initially perceived it as purely abstract. Is the association with the "Fall" a deliberate symbol or a visual trick? Curator: "Fall", the season, is definitely a conscious symbol, layered with cultural and perhaps even psychological meanings. Beyond just autumn, the term hints at descent, imperfection, a lapse...The overlaying of such varied iconic styles urges the viewer to create continuity with cultural memory by combining past and present visual symbology to better understand this work. The cut plate, geometric pattern and symbolic images build a network of cultural reference! Editor: It’s amazing how many layers there are in such a seemingly simple image. I appreciate how the piece prompts one to think about the interplay of personal and collective history, expressed visually. Curator: Indeed. Jasper Johns offers a unique framework for perceiving cultural patterns that shape our comprehension, a reflection of society, time, and most fundamentally, self.