Jasper Johns’ Flag on Orange Field (1957) is a figurative piece of Pop Art style, depicting the American flag against an orange background. The painting has come to symbolize a profound relationship between immediate recognition of the symbol and color applied with precise intention. Johns was one of the first artists to present viewers with the dichotomies embedded in national symbols, such as the American flag. He created this masterpiece at a time when America was undergoing fierce McCarthy witch-hunts during Cold War America and simultaneously struggling with civil rights movement.
The artwork has been reproduced in various formats, including serigraphs, color offset, and lithographs. Flags I (ULAE 128), another work by Johns featuring the American flag may be used as an example for price speculation purposes. The estimated value of this artwork is between $1,000,0000-1,500000.
In comparison to other famous artworks like Picasso’s Guernica (1937), which sold dozens or even hundreds times higher than Flags I(ULAE 128), Flag on Orange Field remains surprisingly affordable despite its cultural impact.Picasso’s artwork became definitive anti-war art and sold for over $100 million at auction years later after it had been created; yet John’s work is still relatively undervalued for its cultural significance beyond artistic exploration.