Flags II [trial proof]

Flags II [trial proof], a seminal color lithograph on wove paper created between 1967 and 1970, exemplifies the collaborative innovation between artist Jasper Johns, master printer Bill Goldston, and Universal Limited Art Editions (ULAE). This particular impression is designated as a trial proof, providing unique insight into the technical stages required to achieve the final edition’s complex structure. Johns, a pivotal American artist of the Post-War era, first began exploring the flag as a subject in the mid-1950s, using familiar, two-dimensional symbols to interrogate the relationship between representation and abstraction.

Belonging to the culturally rich period classified as 1951 to 1975, this print continues Johns’s profound investigation of objects that are simultaneously subjects and fields of pure design. The composition layers colors and textures typical of the artist's mature style in the 1960s, a decade marked by his increased focus on high-quality prints. The lithograph medium was essential for the artist's experimentation during this time; it allowed Johns to manipulate registration and density, creating subtle visual shifts across the repeating motif. The visual complexity inherent in reproducing such a recognized national symbol using layered inks reflects the contemporary American preoccupation with identity and iconographic meaning following mid-century abstract expressionism.

The collaborative process between Johns and the master printers at ULAE was crucial to the success of works like this. The designation as a trial proof documents the precise technical adjustments required to achieve the richness and depth evident in this sophisticated piece of graphic art. Johns's ability to transform an everyday icon into a profound work cements his status in modern art history. This impressive impression of Flags II [trial proof] is part of the distinguished print collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it serves as a critical example of the advanced collaborative prints produced during the vital 1960s print revival.