The Drawings of Jasper Johns

Johns’ drawings are distinctive in part for his use of several techniques in the same work (including freehand drawing tracing and imprinting) as well as for his superb handling of a variety of media, including graphite pencil, charcoal, pen and ink, pastel and watercolour. While his drawings are intimately connected with his paintings and prints, they are not necessarily produced in preparation for other works - often they are a way of refocusing attention on the subjects of the paintings, to provoke new thoughts about the images. This fascinating and beautifully illustrated study casts new light on one of America’s most important contemporary artists.