Jasper Johns – Cicada

Cicada, 1981

• Artist: Jasper Johns (American, born 1930)
• Medium: Lithograph in colors on wove paper
• Dimensions (sheet): 88.9 × 66 cm (35 × 26 in)
• Dimensions (image): 67 × 51.8 cm (26 3/8 × 20 3/8 in)
• Edition: 41/50 (plus 11 artist's proofs)
• Signature: Signed in pencil, dated and numbered by the artist
• Publisher/Printer: Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles
•  Literature: ULAE 219 / Gemini 956 Framed: Yes

Cicada is a color lithograph on wove paper created in 1981, published and printed by Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, as part of the portfolio Eight Lithographs to Benefit the Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts, Inc. This impression is numbered 41/50, signed in pencil, and dated by the artist — one of only 50 numbered examples, plus 11 artist's proofs. The work bears the blindstamps of the publisher and printer, Gemini G.E.L., and is preserved with full margins, framed.

The work exemplifies the cerebral and layered visual language of Jasper Johns, one of the most important and influential American artists of the twentieth century. A pivotal figure in the transition from Abstract Expressionism to Pop Art and Conceptualism, Johns built his practice around the transformation of familiar signs — flags, targets, numbers, maps — into objects of profound ambiguity and perceptual complexity. In Cicada, Johns deploys his characteristic vocabulary of mark-making, texture, and layered color to evoke both the natural world and the processes of perception itself. The cicada — an insect associated with cycles of emergence, transformation, and renewal — serves as a rich metaphor for the themes of change and memory that run throughout Johns' work.

Published in support of the Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts, an organization Johns co-founded in 1963 alongside John Cage to support experimental artists, this lithograph carries a significant institutional and cultural dimension that deepens its resonance for collectors. Works produced for this foundation are tied directly to one of the most important chapters in American avant-garde history.

Referenced in the catalogue raisonné as ULAE 219 and Gemini 956, this impression is fully documented and authenticated.

Preserved with full margins and presented framed, the work is in excellent condition.

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FAQ

Is this Jasper Johns artwork an original edition? Yes. Cicada is an authentic limited edition lithograph, hand-signed, dated, and numbered 41/50 by Jasper Johns in pencil.

What printing technique was used? The artwork is a color lithograph on wove paper, printed by Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles — one of the most prestigious print workshops in the world.

Is the artwork hand-signed? Yes — signed in pencil, dated, and numbered by the artist.

What is the edition size? The work was produced in a limited edition of 50, plus 11 artist's proofs, making it a rare and highly desirable collectible.

Is this work referenced in the catalogue raisonné? Yes. This work is referenced as ULAE 219 and Gemini 956, confirming its full documentation and authenticity.

What are the dimensions of the piece? Sheet: 88.9 × 66 cm (35 × 26 in) Image: 67 × 51.8 cm (26 3/8 × 20 3/8 in)

Is the artwork framed? Yes. The lithograph is offered framed, ready for display.

What is the condition of the work? Very good condition. Full margins preserved. Not examined outside of frame. Full condition report available upon request.

What makes this Jasper Johns edition significant? Cicada was published in support of the Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts, co-founded by Johns and John Cage in 1963 to support experimental artists. Works produced for this foundation are tied to one of the most important chapters in American avant-garde history. Referenced in the catalogue raisonné and printed by the legendary Gemini G.E.L., this impression represents a rare convergence of artistic, institutional, and cultural significance.

Is this artwork a good investment? Works by Jasper Johns, particularly signed and numbered lithographs from the 1980s produced by Gemini G.E.L. and referenced in the catalogue raisonné, are among the most consistently sought after in the contemporary print market. Johns' works regularly achieve significant results at auction and remain cornerstones of major private and institutional collections worldwide.

Is worldwide shipping available? Absolutely. We offer secure worldwide shipping from France with professional packaging, tracking, and insurance.