The artwork titled “Green Angel” was created by Jasper Johns, who is associated with the Neo-Dada art movement. This particular piece can be characterized within the figurative genre, which suggests that it represents forms that are recognizably derived from life even if they are not directly mimetic.
The artwork features an abstraction of shapes and colors juxtaposed against a textured background predominantly in green hues. Dominating the center of the composition is a figure, or motif, that appears to be an amalgamation of irregular forms and vibrant colors such as red, yellow, purple, and blue, with a notable blob of dark blue taking on a central role. A white-scroll-like form in the foreground overlaps part of the colored shapes, adding a sense of depth and dimensionality to the painting. This scroll or banner seems both to hide and to reveal parts of the underlying figures. The use of stark outlines around the shapes gives the artwork a distinct sense of separation between the elements.
Surrounding this central shape are what appear to be fragments of other objects or symbols, including a circular shape on the upper right corner with a red dot, which might resemble an abstract eye. On the top right, the artist’s signature and the date of creation are clearly inscribed, anchoring the piece in a personal context and historical time frame.
This piece by Jasper Johns reflects the typical Neo-Dada intrigue with the conventional boundaries of art, challenging conventional forms through its abstraction and the playful yet structured arrangement of forms and colors. “Green Angel” may provoke contemplation on the nature of representation, iconography, and the interplay between title and perceived subject matter, a testament to Johns’ enduring fascination with visual perception and the ambiguities inherent in modern art.
