Product Description

Jasper Johnsís art unites mastery, mystery, simplicity, and contradiction. His methodical working process combines intense deliberation and experimentation, obsessive craft, cycles of revision and repetition, and decisive shifts of direction. Johns also frequently borrows images from other artists, which, ironically, only underscores the originality of his own vision. His work occupies a key position in the art of the second half of the twentieth century. Jasper Johns: A Retrospective is the most complete and authoritative resource on it available, containing 264 color plates illustrating his paintings, drawings, sculptures, and prints. Accompanying essays review his essential themes, analyze his references to other artists, and explore how his contemporaries have, in turn, seen and absorbed his own work. The plates are arranged to follow the stages of his career, allowing comparison of paintings, drawings, sculptures, and prints from each period, as his style developed and changed. That comprehensive selection of reproductions is interwoven with an illustrated chronology tracing Johns' life and work with unprecedented accuracy and thoroughness. With its scholarly essays and extensive bibliography, Jasper Johns: A Retrospective is the indispensable reference work on this crucial artist. This volume was originally published to accompany the major exhibition of Johns' work held at The Museum of Modern Art in 1996 and 1997, his first full retrospective in 20 years. It has been out of print since 2002.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #263744 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03
• Released on: 2006-03-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 408 pages

Amazon.com Review
In any survey of the art of the second half of this century, Jasper Johns is a central figure. This comprehensive book is the most authoritative and complete book to date on this important North American artist. This lavish volume contains 483 illustrations, including 261 in full color and four foldouts. Johns's entire oeuvre is arranged in sections corresponding to each era of his career in all media--paintings, drawings, sculptures, and prints. With its scholarly essays, beautiful color plate reproductions, and extensive bibliography and chronology, this book is sure to become the definitive resource on Jasper Johns.

Customer Reviews

A magnificent retrospective of this great artist's life work
Did you miss the Johns retrospective at NY MOMA? This book captures the essence of an American Michaelangelo. Subjective? You bet! If you have even the slightest interest in modern art your library is not complete without this retrospective. The many color and b&w photographs are superb, and it is accompanied by a solid chronology of Mr. Johns's life. Emphasis is on original works, but includes a good selection of more important lithographs (I recommend the prints Catalog Raisonne by ULAE if you want a complete reference work in this area). A tour de force by Varnedoe and his editing team!

jasper johns
here is a fabulous book on the american painter Jasper Johns.
As usual, the museum of modern art offers us a big book (more than 400 pages), with beautiful pictures of his work and a great look at his artistic evolution.
So, if there's a book about Jasper Johns to buy, this is the good one!
very complete and great page setting.