catenary

Catenary is a term used to describe the curve assumed by a cord suspended freely from two points.

Jasper Johns made a series of artworks between 1997 and 2003 in which he tacked household string to the canvas or its supports to form catenaries.

Near The Lagoon  Encaustic on canvas and wood board with objects is the last of his 'catenary' series.

The string casts a shadow on the canvas.

Jasper Johns also pushed the string into the encaustic and then removed it.
The resulting mark is enlivened with paint.

I saw this painting during one of our visits to Chicago when our daughter, April, was studying at the Art Institute.

I respond to it.   Why?
The curve.  The materials that seem so real.
The visible touch of his hand.
The scale of it. (118" high x 84" wide x 4 " deep)

It's like an out breath..