Savarin 4
26 x 20 1/2 inchesSavarin 4 (Oval)
(ULAE 194), 1978
26 x 20 1/2 inches
edition: 42 with 5 AP's & 3 PP's
signed and dated lower right and numbered lower left, in pencil
ULAE Blindstamp bottom left
published by ULAE, 1978, West Islip, New York
printed by Bill Goldston, James V. Smith, Keith Brintzenhofe
© 2024 Jasper Johns / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY
Literature
Judith Goldman, Jasper Johns Prints 1977-1981, Thomas Segal Gallery, Boston, MA, 1981, n.p., Segal 8, another impression reproduced full page black and white.
Shigeo Chiba, Jasper Johns Prints Exhibition 1960–1989, Tokyo, 1990, Japan Art and Culture Association/Kokusai Geijutsu Bunka Shinkokai, n.p., plate 66, another impression reproduced.
Michel Butor, Kathleen Slavin, Jasper Johns Gravures Dessins 1960-1991, Foundation Vincent Van Gogh, 1992, no. 64, pg. 114, another impression reproduced in full-page color.
Richard Field, The Prints of Jasper Johns 1960-1993: A Catalogue Raisonne, ULAE, New York, 1994, Catalogue Reference ULAE 194, n.p., another impression reproduced in full-page color.
Susan Lorence, Technique and Collaboration in the Prints of Jasper Johns, Castelli Gallery, New York, 1996, Catalogue Reference 26, n.p., another impression reproduced in black and white
Exhibited
The Museum of Modern Art, New York, Recent Acquisitions: American Prints, Nov 16, 1978–Feb 20, 1979, another impression exhibited.
The Seibu Museum of Art, Tokyo, Prints Exhibition 1960–1989, Traveled to The Seibu Department Store, Isetan Museum of Art, Tokyo, April 26th—May 15th, 1990, Isetan Department Store, Niigata, June 7-19, 1990, Isetan Department Store, Urawa, July 18-24, 1990, Isetan Department Store, Matsudo, August 9—August 14, 1990, Isetan Department Store, Shizuoka, August 23—August 28, 1990, another impression exhibited.
The Atkinson, Southport, Warhol to Walker: American prints from pop art to today, January 13, 2018–March 10, 2018, other impression exhibited.
Foundation Vincent Van Gogh, Arles, Jasper Johns Prints and Drawings from the Castelli collection, July 4-September 30, 1992, another impression exhibited.
Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, An Art of Changes: Jasper Johns Prints, 1960–2018, October 12–January 20, 2020, another impression exhibited; exhibition traveled to these venues:
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, February 16, 2020–January 3, 2021
Tampa Art Museum, Florida, April 28–September 5, 2021
Grand Rapids Art Museum, Michigan, October 2–January 9, 2022
Parrish Art Museum, Water Mill, New York, April 23–July 10, 2022
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, Jasper Johns Mind/Mirror, September 29, 2021 - February 13, 2022, another impression exhibited.
Selected Museum Collections
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis
Museum of Modern Art, New York
The Broad Museum, Los Angeles
Additional Photos
Image Detail
Signature & Date lower right
Edition & ULAE blindstamp lower left
Jasper Johns made a life-size painted bronzed sculpture based on a Savarin coffee can that he used to hold paintbrushes in his studio. The Savarin can, which may be interpreted as a surrogate for Johns, debuted in his work as a painted bronze sculpture in 1960. He returned to the image in mid-1970's with a series of prints exploring variations on the Savarin Can.
JASPER JOHNS SAVARIN OVAL
Jasper Johns made a life-size painted bronzed sculpture based on a Savarin coffee can that he used to hold paintbrushes in his studio. The Savarin can, which may be interpreted as a surrogate for Johns, debuted in his work as a painted bronze sculpture in 1960. He returned to the image in mid-1970's with a series of prints exploring variations on the Savarin Can.
In 1978, Johns remarked, "In my early work I tried to hide my personality, my psychological state, my emotionsbut eventually it seemed like a losing battle. Finally one must drop the reserve." For much of Johns' career, he masked his presence in his art with subjects like Flags, Targets, and Maps. It is only the "painterly-ness" that hints to the artist's hand. In Savarin though, Johns begins to reveal himself. Through his handling of the materials, Johns invoked the traditional art historical subject of an artist in his/her atelier or studio. Johns resisted painting a traditional self-portrait and instead, he substituted his instruments for himself. In the Savarin works Johns placed the Savarin can/himself as the dominate object/subject. He displays the tools used in art making as an extension of himself.
An impression of Johns Savarin was included in Focus: Jasper Johns Dec 5, 2008–Feb 16, 2009 at the Museum of Modern Art, New York
Another impression of Jasper Johns' Savarin was included in Jasper Johns: Mind/Mirror, the simultaneous Jasper Johns retrospective jointly organized at the Philadelphia Museum and The Whitney Museum of American Art, in 2020. This massive exhibition took place simultaneously in both museums and was expected to be the largest retrospective exhibition ever devoted to the artist. From his iconic flags to lesser-known and recent works, the exhibition featured paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints-nearly 500 artworks across the two museums, many of which were from Johns’s personal collection and shown publicly for the first time. Inspired by Jasper Johns’ long-standing fascination with mirroring and doubles, each half of the exhibition acted as a reflection of the other, inviting viewers to look closely to discover the themes, methods, and coded visual language that echoed across the two venues.
The condition of Jasper Johns prints plays a pivotal role in preserving the integrity and value of these artworks. The presence of mat staining, fox marks, and attenuated colors can significantly impact the overall aesthetic and historical integrity of these artworks. When considering a purchase of a Jasper Johns print, it is crucial to be wary of dealers who claim prints are in good condition despite such issues, as this may be a deliberate attempt to mislead buyers. Transparency is imperative in the art market and dealers who purposefully omit condition details are not acting in the best interest of the collector. It is also advisable to avoid dealers who artificially enhance colors in photos, distorting the true condition of the artwork. Choosing dealers who provide accurate representations, even if it reveals imperfections, ensures that buyers make well-informed decisions, maintaining the authenticity and value of Jasper Johns prints over time.
