The artwork titled “Painting with Two Balls (ULAE 87)” is a creation by the artist Jasper Johns, whose work is often associated with Abstract Expressionism, a movement known for its focus on spontaneous, automatic, or subconscious creation. Johns’ genre of choice for this piece is abstract, which is a departure from the representational depiction of objects, allowing for a more subjective interpretation by the viewer.
Upon examining the artwork, we can observe a composition marked by vibrant color blocks, dominated by red, yellow, and blue. Each color seems to occupy its own distinct section, yet the borders are not cleanly separated, allowing for an interplay between the planes. A degree of textural detail highlights the active nature of the brushwork or similar tools used in the creation of the piece. In the yellow and red sections, one may notice markings that evoke the feeling of motion or scribbles. Meanwhile, two small circular figures, presumably the ‘two balls’ mentioned in the title, are situated within the black horizontal band which dissects the image, introducing a geometric element that contrasts with the otherwise free-form marks. Below, the name ‘Jasper Johns’ is visibly inscribed along with the title of the work, anchoring the abstract image with a direct identifier of the artist and the artwork itself.
