Jasper Johns' "Catherine Craft": A Playful Exploration of Representation

Catherine Craft: A Muse and Subject

Jasper Johns, one of the most influential American artists of the 20th century, is renowned for his enigmatic and thought-provoking artworks. Among his diverse body of work, the series titled "Catherine Craft" holds a special significance. Created over several decades, these paintings and drawings center around the enigmatic figure of Catherine Craft, a woman who became both a muse and subject for Johns.

Catherine Craft was a waitress at the Cedar Tavern in Greenwich Village, New York, a popular haunt for artists and intellectuals in the 1950s. She first caught Johns' attention in 1960, and he was immediately intrigued by her enigmatic presence and striking features. Johns began incorporating Craft into his artworks, using her as a model for a series of paintings, drawings, and sculptures.

Jasper Johns

by Catherine Craft

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	20850 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	256 pages

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The Paintings

The "Catherine Craft" paintings are characterized by their bold, flat colors and simplified, almost cartoonish forms. Johns depicts Craft in various poses, often with her eyes closed or looking off into the distance. Her body language conveys a sense of detachment and mystery, as if she is an object of contemplation rather than a living, breathing person.

In "Catherine Craft Reading" (1962),Craft is shown sitting in a chair, engrossed in a book. Her face is partially obscured by her hair, and her body is rendered in a simplified, almost childlike manner. The painting's flat colors and lack of shading create a sense of detachment, distancing Craft from the viewer.

Another notable painting in the series is "Catherine Craft" (1961-62). In this work, Craft is depicted standing in front of a gray background. She is wearing a plain white dress and her hair is pulled back into a simple ponytail. Her expression is blank and her body language conveys a sense of stillness and isolation.

The Drawings

In addition to the paintings, Johns also created a series of drawings featuring Catherine Craft. These drawings are more intimate and experimental than the paintings, and they often explore themes of representation and identity.

In "Catherine Craft with Crosshatching" (1961),Johns depicts Craft's face with a dense network of crosshatched lines. This technique creates a sense of depth and texture, but it also obscures Craft's features, making her appear almost unrecognizable.

Another drawing, "Catherine Craft with Ruler" (1961),features Craft standing in front of a ruler. Johns has used the ruler to measure her body, creating a series of lines that intersect with her form. This drawing explores the relationship between representation and reality, as it both measures and distorts Craft's body.

The Sculptures

In addition to the paintings and drawings, Johns also created a number of sculptures of Catherine Craft. These sculptures are more abstract than the paintings and drawings, and they often explore the relationship between form and space.

In "Catherine Craft" (1961),Johns created a sculpture of Craft's head using a mold of her face. The sculpture is made of plaster and is painted in white. It is a simplified and idealized representation of Craft's face, and it evokes a sense of both beauty and vulnerability.

Another sculpture, "Catherine Craft with Skull" (1961-62),features a cast of Craft's face placed on top of a skull. This sculpture explores the themes of life and death, as it juxtaposes the youthful image of Craft's face with the symbol of mortality.

The Legacy of Catherine Craft

The "Catherine Craft" series is a significant body of work in Jasper Johns' career. It represents his exploration of representation, identity, and the relationship between image and reality. Catherine Craft herself became an iconic figure in the art world, and her image has been reproduced and reinterpreted countless times.

The "Catherine Craft" series has been the subject of numerous exhibitions and publications, and it continues to be studied and interpreted by art historians and scholars. It is a testament to Jasper Johns' enduring influence and his ability to create artworks that are both aesthetically engaging and intellectually stimulating.

Image Descriptions

• "Catherine Craft Reading" (1962) by Jasper Johns: A painting depicting Catherine Craft sitting in a chair and reading a book. Craft's face is partially obscured by her hair, and her body is rendered in a simplified, cartoonish manner.
• "Catherine Craft" (1961-62) by Jasper Johns: A painting depicting Catherine Craft standing in front of a gray background. She is wearing a plain white dress and her hair is pulled back into a simple ponytail. Her expression is blank and her body language conveys a sense of stillness and isolation.
• "Catherine Craft with Crosshatching" (1961) by Jasper Johns: A drawing depicting Catherine Craft's face with a dense network of crosshatched lines. This technique creates a sense of depth and texture, but it also obscures Craft's features, making her appear almost unrecognizable.
• "Catherine Craft with Ruler" (1961) by Jasper Johns: A drawing featuring Catherine Craft standing in front of a ruler. Johns has used the ruler to measure her body, creating a series of lines that intersect with her form.
• "Catherine Craft" (1961) by Jasper Johns: A sculpture of Catherine Craft's head using a mold of her face. The sculpture is made of plaster and is painted in white. It is a simplified and idealized representation of Craft's face, and it evokes a sense of both beauty and vulnerability.
• "Catherine Craft with Skull" (1961-62) by Jasper Johns: A sculpture featuring a cast of Craft's face placed on top of a skull. This sculpture explores the themes of life and death, as it juxtaposes the youthful image of Craft's face with the symbol of mortality.

Jasper Johns

by Catherine Craft

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	20850 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	256 pages

FREE