three flags by jasper johns

“Three Flags” by Jasper Johns – A Look at Patriotic Art

Jasper Johns’ iconic artwork, Three Flags, is a testament to his innovative approach to art and his profound influence on contemporary American art. Created in 1958, this masterpiece is a striking exploration of patriotism, symbolism, and artistic technique. Using encaustic on canvas, Johns meticulously renders three flags stacked on top of each other—the American flag, the familiar symbol of national identity, transformed into a captivating and thought-provoking composition. Three Flags challenges viewers to contemplate the layers of meaning embedded in the flag’s iconic design, making it a timeless and engaging piece in the realm of modern art.

 

 

Key Takeaways

  • Three Flags by Jasper Johns was painted in 1958.
  • The painting uses the encaustic technique for texture and depth.
  • It is housed in the Whitney Museum and was a record-breaking purchase in 1980.

 

 

Artistic Context and Background

ArtistJasper Johns (1930 – Present)
Date Created1958
MediumEncaustic on canvas
GenreContemporary art, Pop art
Period/MovementNeo-Dada, Contemporary
Dimensions (cm)77.8 × 115.6 
Series/VersionsSingle version
Where Is It Housed?Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City, United States
What It Is WorthAuctioned to the Whitney Museum in 1980 for $1 million

Jasper Johns’ Three Flags, created in 1958, stands as a significant milestone in the American art movement. This striking painting embodies Johns’ innovative approach to well-known imagery, where everyday symbols are transformed into profound artistic expressions. With its three tiers of overlapping American flags, each smaller and set slightly forward from the one beneath, the piece invites viewers to engage in a deeper exploration of a common national icon. Johns’ use of encaustic—a technique involving hot wax and pigment—adds texture and depth to Three Flags, showcasing his mastery in merging material and concept.

The three stacked canvases challenge conventional perceptions, drawing attention to the nuances and layers often overlooked in daily life. This approach exemplifies his broader career goal of prompting viewers to reconsider how they see familiar objects around them. Three Flags resides in New York’s Whitney Museum of American Art, reflecting its importance and the impact it has had on audiences and collectors alike. Purchased for $1 million in 1980, it was once the highest price paid for a work by a living artist, underlining its critical and commercial success. This record-breaking acquisition highlights the enduring appeal and cultural significance of Johns’ pivotal work.

 

Cultural Significance and American Art

Jasper Johns’ Three Flags holds a pivotal place in American art. Created in 1958, it is emblematic of the artist’s exploration of familiar symbols within a new context. The American flag is depicted through a layered, tiered arrangement, encouraging viewers to actively engage with the layers of meaning. This approach was revolutionary, positioning everyday objects as worthy subjects of fine art and challenging traditional artistic boundaries.

Johns, born in South Carolina and later moving to New York, became an influential figure in the contemporary art scene.

Educated at the Parsons School of Design, his experiences in the South and in New York fueled his unique perspectives on American culture. By integrating the American flag, a powerful national icon, into his art, Johns bridged the gap between everyday symbolism and high art, propelling pop art into new territory.

 

Development of Three Flags

The creation of Three Flags marked a significant point in Johns’ career. Using the encaustic painting technique, which involves hot wax mixed with pigments, he achieved a textured, layered effect. This method highlighted the flag’s materiality, emphasizing its physical presence and abstract qualities.

development of three flags Three Flags (1958), Jasper Johns; After Jasper Johns, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Johns’ move to New York and association with influential dealer Leo Castelli played a crucial role in his artistic development. Castelli’s gallery showcased Johns’ works, including Three Flags, to a broader audience. The piece’s innovative approach garnered attention, and it was later acquired by the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Three Flags stands as a testament to Johns’ skill in merging technique and concept, bringing renewed focus to the process of viewing art. It remains a critical commentary on the intersections of American art, culture, and history.

 

 

Technical Composition and Style

Three Flags by Jasper Johns is a masterful exploration of techniques and media, illustrating the complex interplay of symbolism and abstract art. It showcases the influence of Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art through its innovative design and composition.

 

Techniques and Media

Jasper Johns employed encaustic (hot wax) painting for Three Flags, which involves mixing pigment with molten wax and applying it to the surface. This technique allows for rich texture and layered depth. The work consists of three canvases, each smaller and stacked atop the other, creating a tiered effect. This unique composition adds dimension and depth to an initially flat image. The use of warm wax causes the pigments to retain vividness and flexibility, encapsulating Johns’ neo-Dada approach by transforming a common symbol into a textured, complex art object.

techniques of three flags Detail on Three Flags (1958), Jasper Johns; Rob Corder, CC BY-NC 4.0, via Flickr

 

Symbolism and Design

Three Flags features three American flags, diminishing in size, stacked successively on each other. This symbol of American identity is transformed into layered canvases, inviting viewers to examine familiar images with new depth. By presenting a flag, which is typically “seen and not looked at,” Johns pushes the observer to reconsider what their mind already knows. Design decisions, such as the size variation and layering, emphasize how common images can hold nuanced meanings.

The intricate detail in each stripe and star demands close inspection, showcasing the deliberate making process behind the seemingly recognizable image.

 

Influence of Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art

Three Flags stands at the confluence of Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art. The influence of Abstract Expressionism can be seen in Johns’ gestural brushstrokes and the expressive use of color and texture. Embracing Pop Art, Johns utilizes a popular image—the American flag—highlighting mass culture’s interplay with fine art. The painting’s iconic status and function as both object and image reflect Pop Art’s ethos, questioning traditional art boundaries. Johns’ technique of layering flag upon flag creates abstraction within the recognizable, blending emotional depth and cultural critique, hallmarks of both movements.

abstract expressionism of three flags Three Flags (1958), Jasper Johns; After Jasper Johns, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

 

 

Interpretation and Perception

Three Flags by Jasper Johns prompts viewers to reconsider common symbols such as the American flag, elevating the mundane to a subject of rigorous scrutiny.

 

Viewer Engagement

Jasper Johns’ Three Flags captivates viewers’ attention by transforming a familiar object—the American flag—into a subject requiring closer examination. Unlike typical depictions, Johns’ rendition involves a tiered arrangement of three canvases.

This composition demands viewers not just to see the flag, but to look actively and engage with its intricate details.

By using encaustic—a method involving hot wax—the texture becomes a focal point. The choice of material and technique encourages a tactile appreciation and visual inspection that challenges what the mind already knows about the flag, thus adding layers of complexity and depth to a common symbol.

 

Perspective and Dimensionality

Perspective and dimensionality are manipulated uniquely in Three Flags. The tiered arrangement of the canvases creates a three-dimensional effect, inviting viewers to experience the artwork from multiple angles. Each canvas is approximately 25% smaller than the one below it, enhancing the sense of perspective.

perspective of three flags Three Flags (1958), Jasper Johns; Shinya Suzuki, CC BY-NC 4.0, via Flickr

This structure not only allows a re-examination of the flag’s image but also pushes the boundaries of traditional flag representations. Johns plays with the viewer’s perception, making them consider the flag from a different viewpoint, thus influencing how the iconic image is interpreted and understood.

 

 

Provenance and Public Reception

Three Flags by Jasper Johns has a storied history and has made significant impacts on both critics and the broader art community. The painting has traveled through various exhibitions and has been noted for its unique approach to American symbolism and pop art.

 

Critical Acclaim and Exhibitions

Three Flags has been displayed in numerous exhibitions, most prominently at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. The Whitney acquired the work from the Tremaine Collection, an acquisition that highlighted the museum’s commitment to groundbreaking contemporary art. Curators have praised its tiered structure, which consists of three canvases, each smaller than the one behind it, creating a 3D effect.

Jasper Johns’ radical act of using the American flag as art was perceived as both aggressive and intellectually stimulating, challenging the norms of traditional abstract expressionist canvases.

The painting has also featured in prominent international exhibitions, including those organized by the Arts Council of Great Britain, enriching its reputation worldwide. Critics have lauded its beautiful yet aggressive aesthetic qualities, noting its diaphanous marks and meticulous composition.

 

Jasper Johns’ Influence on Art

Jasper Johns’ Three Flags marked a departure from the raw, emotive gestures of abstract expressionism towards more deliberate, conceptually driven art. By focusing on popular imagery, like the American flag, Johns questioned and redefined the boundaries of art and its relation to everyday objects. His ties with influential figures like Robert Rauschenberg, Merce Cunningham, and John Cage further amplified his impact on the art world.

influence of three flags Flag, 1967, Encaustic and collage on canvas (three panels); Rob Corder, CC BY-NC 4.0, via Flickr

Introduced to the public through the Leo Castelli Gallery, Johns’ work resonated with themes of American history, including references to Sergeant William Jasper of the Revolutionary War and the Korean War, underscoring a multifaceted view of the American experience. Johns’ precise and inventive techniques have influenced generations of artists, solidifying his role as a pivotal figure in contemporary art. The painting continues to attract critical attention for its exciting, layered composition and the bold statement it makes about national identity and artistic expression.

 

Jasper Johns’ Three Flags stands as a seminal work that transcends its time and continues to captivate audiences with its bold exploration of national identity and artistic expression. By pushing the boundaries of traditional artistic mediums and challenging viewers to engage with familiar symbols in new ways, Johns has left an indelible mark on the landscape of contemporary art. Three Flags remains a testament to the power of art to provoke thought, evoke emotion, and spark meaningful dialogue about the complex intersections of culture, identity, and creativity.

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What Does Jasper Johns’ Three Flags Symbolize?

Three Flags utilizes the American flag, a recognizable symbol, layered thrice to challenge viewers’ perceptions. Johns’ approach encourages deeper examination, moving beyond passive recognition. The piece prompts questions about identity and patriotism, reflecting on how universally acknowledged symbols impact our understanding of national identity.

 

What Was the Significance of Three Flags in the Context of 1950s America?

Created in 1958, Three Flags arrived during an era of political and social upheaval in America. The work resonates with themes of conformity and dissent, mirroring the era’s tension. By presenting the American flag in a serialized fashion, Johns highlighted the complexities of national allegiance and personal identity amid Cold War anxieties.

 

How Has Three Flags by Jasper Johns Influenced Contemporary Art?

Three Flags impacted contemporary art by breaking barriers in visual and conceptual realms. Johns’ use of encaustic painting and integration of everyday symbols pioneered a new artistic language. Contemporary artists often draw inspiration from his techniques and thematic boldness, utilizing similar methods to question reality and societal norms.

 

What Was the Auction Price for Jasper Johns’ Three Flags?

In 1980, Three Flags was sold to the Whitney Museum of American Art for $1 million, a groundbreaking figure at the time. This sale underscored the work’s significance and marked a pivotal moment in the art market, highlighting the growing financial and cultural value attributed to post-war American art.

 

Cite this Article

Isabella, Meyer, ““Three Flags” by Jasper Johns – A Look at Patriotic Art.” Art in Context. June 19, 2024. URL: https://artincontext.org/three-flags-by-jasper-johns/

Meyer, I. (2024, 19 June). “Three Flags” by Jasper Johns – A Look at Patriotic Art. Art in Context. https://artincontext.org/three-flags-by-jasper-johns/

Meyer, Isabella. ““Three Flags” by Jasper Johns – A Look at Patriotic Art.” Art in Context, June 19, 2024. https://artincontext.org/three-flags-by-jasper-johns/.

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