Jasper Johns, an American artist, created a sculpture entitled “Painted Bronze” in 1960. The sculpture was made by casting a Savarin coffee tin that was filled with used paintbrushes in bronze. This piece of art blurred the line between found object and artistic recreation. Johns is known for his use of everyday objects as subject matter in his works.
In addition to the coffee tin sculpture, Johns also cast two beer cans in bronze and painted them to look like ordinary beer cans. This work was generated by an offhand remark from Willem de Kooning about Leo Castelli’s ability to market works by emerging artists.
The coffee tin sculpture became one of Jasper Johns’ most famous works of art. It was commissioned as the signature image for his 1977 retrospective exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art. The exhibit showcased some of his most important pieces from throughout his career.
Jasper Johns’ “Painted Bronze” sculptures are regarded as an iconic example of Pop Art, taking everyday objects and transforming them into art objects. His work has influenced generations of artists who have followed him, making him an important figure in American art history.