The Flag

Mediums: сollage, encaustic, oil, fabric, plywood.
Location: The Museum of Modern Art, New York, the USA.

The first large painting of Johns with a recognizable object, which is the American flag. The picture if made in a mixed technique, its basis consists of newsprint covered with encaustic, through which the letters of the typographic font shine. Simple at first glance, the picture and uncomplicated composition give you mixed feelings. For some people, the flag symbolizes national pride and honour, while for others it is a sign of enslavement and oppression. The artist himself never explained his idea of the painting, letting the audience decide the meaning that seems most suitable to it. The artist varied the theme – for example, “Flag on an Orange Field” (1957) at the Ludwig Museum in Cologne.