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2011:10:27 23:17:20

Map

Jasper Johns
American, born 1930

Map, 1961
Oil on canvas

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Scull

The map of the United States is an instantly recognizable and understood symbol—as Johns said, it is “seen and not looked at, not examined.” Preserving the overall proportions of the continental U.S. and the shape of its states, Johns undermines the conventions of cartography as he blurs the borders with brushwork. The artist's reliance on existing systems is visible not only in the geography he co-opts but also in his use of stenciled letters to identify the states.

⚐ 33° 47′ 23.508″ N 84° 23′ 10.256″ W, ⛰ 298m