Target With Plaster Casts 1955 by Jasper Johns
Target With Plaster Casts
Jasper Johns’s Breakthrough: How a Target Became a Symbol of Modern Art
In 1955, Jasper Johns painted a target—and in doing so, he hit the bullseye of art history. Target With Plaster Casts emerged at a moment when Abstract Expressionism dominated American galleries, its gestural brushwork and emotional intensity setting the tone for postwar creativity. Johns, however, took a radical detour. By rendering a common shooting target in encrusted oil paint and affixing plaster casts of body parts above it, he collapsed the boundary between the everyday and the avant-garde. The work’s deliberate flatness and use of found imagery challenged the myth of the artist’s hand as a vessel of pure expression, a provocation that would define his career.
This painting arrived as Johns was dismantling the hierarchies of high and low culture, a project he shared with Robert Rauschenberg, his contemporary and occasional collaborator. The target—a mass-produced object with no inherent artistic value—became, in Johns’s hands, a canvas for meditation on perception and meaning. As the Museum of Modern Art later noted, his work from this period “turned the act of looking into an active, almost physical experience.” The plaster casts, positioned like relics above the concentric circles, introduce a tactile contradiction: the cold precision of the target versus the organic fragility of human fragments. It is this tension that makes the piece enduringly unsettling.
Neo-Dada and the Rejection of Abstract Expressionism
By the mid-1950s, the art world had grown weary of Abstract Expressionism’s grandiosity. Enter Neo-Dada, a movement that embraced irony, found objects, and a stubborn refusal to take itself too seriously. Jasper Johns, alongside Rauschenberg, became its reluctant figurehead. Target With Plaster Casts exemplifies the Neo-Dada ethos: it is at once a painting, a sculpture, and a readymade—a hybrid that defies easy categorization. The target, a symbol of precision, is rendered with deliberate imperfection, its surface thick with paint that obscures as much as it reveals.
The plaster casts, often overlooked in discussions of the work, are crucial. Molded from parts of the human body (likely Johns’s own), they introduce an element of the personal into an otherwise impersonal composition. This juxtaposition—between the mechanical and the bodily, the public and the private—mirrors the broader Neo-Dada project. As the Tate observes, Johns’s work from this era “challenged the viewer to question what they were looking at, and why.” The target, a universal symbol of aim and accuracy, becomes a metaphor for the act of interpretation itself.
The genius of Target With Plaster Casts lies in its refusal to resolve. It is neither purely painting nor sculpture, neither abstraction nor representation—yet it is undeniably all of these at once.
The Making of an Icon: Technique and Materiality
Encountering the Surface
The texture of Target With Plaster Casts is as significant as its imagery. Johns built up the canvas with layers of oil paint, applied so thickly that the surface becomes almost sculptural. This tactile quality forces the viewer to confront the painting as an object, not just an image. The target’s rings, traditionally symbols of precision, are here rendered with visible brushstrokes and uneven edges—a deliberate undermining of their implied exactitude.
The Plaster Casts: Fragments of the Self
Above the target, the plaster casts introduce a disquieting human element. Molded from body parts (a hand, a foot, a face), they are painted in monochromatic gray, their anonymity contrasting with the vivid colors below. Their placement—floating like ghosts above the target—suggests a tension between the aim of the artist and the unpredictability of the human form. The casts were not merely added as afterthoughts; they were integral to the work’s conception, bridging the gap between abstraction and the corporeal.
Own This Neo-Dada Masterwork
Bring Jasper Johns’s revolutionary Target With Plaster Casts into your space. This 30×40 cm framed print arrives ready to hang, with archival inks and a gallery-quality frame. Free worldwide shipping ensures it reaches you wherever you are.
Add to CartDisplaying Target With Plaster Casts: A Guide to Placement
This print’s bold geometry and muted palette make it a versatile addition to contemporary interiors. The 30×40 cm size suits a variety of spaces: above a minimalist console in a hallway, as a focal point in a home office, or paired with other Neo-Dada works in a gallery wall. The target’s concentric circles draw the eye, so position it at viewing height (centered roughly 60 inches from the floor) to maximize its impact. For color harmony, consider walls in soft grays, deep blues, or warm whites—tones that complement the plaster casts’ neutrality while allowing the target’s subtle hues to stand out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the frame included? What is the quality?
Yes, every print includes a gallery-quality frame made from sustainably sourced wood, with a neutral matte finish that complements the artwork. The frame is designed to protect the print while enhancing its visual presence.
Where do you ship, and how long does delivery take?
We offer free shipping to all countries, with no minimum purchase. Delivery typically takes 5–10 business days, depending on your location. All prints are carefully packaged to arrive in perfect condition.
How long will the colors stay vibrant?
Our prints use archival pigments and acid-free paper, ensuring colorfastness for decades under normal lighting conditions. Direct sunlight should be avoided to preserve the print’s original intensity.
What is your return policy?
If you’re not completely satisfied, you may return your print within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. The frame must be in its original condition, and we cover return shipping costs.
Sources & Further Reading
- Museum of Modern Art. "Jasper Johns. Target with Plaster Casts. 1955." MoMA.
- Tate. "Jasper Johns." Tate.
- The Art Story. "Jasper Johns: American Painter and Printmaker." The Art Story Foundation.
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Target With Plaster Casts arrives framed and ready to hang, with free worldwide shipping and a 30-day return guarantee. Own a piece of Neo-Dada history—add it to your collection today.
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