TargetJasper Johns · 1961
Encaustic- WallArt
- Pop Art
1961- Modern
Art Institute of Chicago
The Geometry of Sight
A series of concentric circles occupies the square canvas, pulling the eye toward a central point. Red, blue, and yellow rings expand outward from the middle, creating a bullseye that commands the space. The paint sits heavy on the surface, thick with encaustic and oil. Each stroke leaves a physical ridge, a tactile record of the brush dragging through hot wax. These layers create micro-shadows across the flat plane. The composition relies on the tension between these geometric shapes and the raw, sculptural weight of the medium.
Symbols and Substance
The 1961 work emerges from a period when familiar objects were being stripped of their traditional meanings. By using a target, the artist utilizes a recognizable motif to investigate how we perceive symbols. The primary colors are applied with a heavy, impasto texture that makes the pigment feel like an object in itself. There is a quiet struggle between the representational idea of a target and the abstract reality of the painted rings. The surface captures every drip and drag, turning the act of painting into a visible, physical event. A single point remains fixed.
Jasper Johns (1930 –)
American Neo-Dadaist using encaustic wax to transform familiar flags, targets, and maps into textured explorations of visual perception.
Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago, United States of America)
Discover masterpieces like Seurat's La Grande Jatte in Chicago. Explore this legendary collection today.
About this artwork
- Title: Target
- Artist: Jasper Johns
- Year: 1961
- Format: Square
- Copyright status: Under copyright
- Where to see it: Art Institute of Chicago
- Movement: Pop Art
- Period: Modern
- Creative period: Early Period
- Inventory number: 2015.119
Quick Facts
- Location: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago
- Title: Target
- Subject or theme: Geometric forms, bullseye motif
- Dimensions: 167.6 × 167.6 cm
- Artistic style: Abstract Expressionism, Neo-Dada
Questions & Answers
What does "Target" by Jasper Johns depict?
"Target" by Jasper Johns depicts: red background, blue rings, yellow rings, concentric circles, geometric shapes, thick texture, primary colors.
Which museum holds the original "Target"?
"Target" by Jasper Johns is on display at the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, United States of America. The museum listing refers to the original work, not to reproductions.
What use and space are recommended for "Target" by Jasper Johns?
Use (focal) and space (coworking) are the two recommendations recorded for "Target" by Jasper Johns.