Painting with Two Balls by Jasper Johns

'Painting with Two Balls' is a seminal artwork created by the American artist Jasper Johns in 1960. This piece is a prominent example of Neo-Dada art, situated between Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art. The title is quite literal, as the painting features three horizontal canvases joined together with two small, painted balls wedged between the upper and middle sections. This physical intervention into the canvas was seen as a witty critique of the hyper-masculine, gestural style of the Abstract Expressionist movement that dominated the era.

Originally composed using encaustic (a mixture of pigment and hot wax) and collage on canvas, the piece showcases Johns' interest in everyday objects and the texture of paint itself. Its creation and ownership are tied to the artist's personal collection and subsequent acquisition by major art institutions. As an unique piece of fine art, it does not have a traditional corporate manufacturing chain but is deeply rooted in the mid-20th-century New York art scene.