“Flags I (ULAE 128)” is an artwork by Jasper Johns, prominent within the Pop Art movement. The piece is of a figurative genre and exemplifies Johns’ fascination with familiar iconography and its reinterpretation within the realm of art.
The artwork features two American flags in horizontal alignment against a plain backdrop. Both flags are rendered with a rough textural quality that deviates from a realistic depiction, signifying Johns’ interest in the tactile and gestural aspects of painting. The stars and stripes are clearly distinguishable, though the application of paint introduces a sense of movement and fluidity to the otherwise rigid and symbolic forms. Drips and strokes of paint that extend beyond the edges of the flags contribute to a sense of the artwork being in a constant state of becoming, a typical feature of Johns’ approach to subjects that are static and emblematic in nature. This technique challenges the viewer’s perception of symbols and the way art engages with cultural objects.
