The Seasons (Winter) [1st state] 1987

This is "The Seasons (Winter)," a print by Jasper Johns. Born in 1930, Johns emerged as a pivotal figure in the shift from abstract expressionism to pop art, deeply influenced by the societal shifts post-World War II. Here, Johns presents us with a dichotomy: the starkness of winter against a backdrop teeming with personal and cultural symbols. The silhouette, reminiscent of Johns himself, stands against a wall, marked by time and perhaps, the burden of history. But what does it mean to represent oneself against such a backdrop? Is it an act of vulnerability, of exposure? The “seasons” series began shortly after Johns’s coming out; he said of this time, "I was very occupied with what I thought of as my secrets." The layering of motifs—stars, fragments of tools, and personal mementos—invite us to consider how identity is constructed from both public and private realms. Johns challenges us to consider the weight of history on the individual and vice versa.