The artwork titled “0 Through 9” was created by the artist Jasper Johns in 1961. Employing oil paint on canvas as his medium, Johns contributed to the Abstract Expressionism movement with this piece. The genre of this symbolic painting aligns with the abstract exploration of familiar symbols and objects that marked much of Johns’ work. “0 Through 9” is part of the collection at the Tate Modern in London, United Kingdom.
In the artwork, the viewer is presented with a complex integration of numerals from zero to nine, superimposed upon each other in a single plane. The numbers, intertwined and layered, are executed with vigorous brush strokes, demonstrating Johns’ signature style that bridges the gap between Abstract Expressionism and the later movements that emerged. The use of color is vivid, with a dynamic range of hues intertwining and juxtaposing across the composition, enhancing the sense of depth and movement. The overlapping of the numbers creates a sense of chaos but also an ordered complexity, as each numeral can still be individually discerned through careful observation. This interplay invites viewers to ponder the nature of representation and the relationship between symbols and their meanings.
