Untitled (ULAE S46)

One of eighteen unique monotypes based on a crosshatch painting of 1979. Using the primary colors of red, blue and yellow which are so characteristic of Johns work, he builds up a complicated pattern of mirrored cross hatched lines. The series was printed from Mylar plates with the assistance of Bill Goldston at ULAE. Johns had first made monotypes in 1978 when he produced a series of Savarin images, each one including a monotype element. Or the series of untitled monotypes from 1983, each being unique in that although some plates were revised during production, the order in which the plates are used and in the color combinations which are extended to the green, purple and bronze varies with every piece. The current example subtly blends both color schemes.