The painting, ‘False Start’, oil on canvas, (67 ¼ inches x 54 inches) was painted by the contemporary American artist Jasper John (born May 15, 1930) in 1959. The artist is acknowledged for his work in the field of printmaking and painting, and most of his artworks are described with the term ‘Neo-Dadaist’.

‘False Start’ is an extremely vivid artwork in which the artist used several tones of colours and the canvas is considered as a perfect example of classical iconography. According to art critics, the painting is an explosive image and seems to be blowing itself apart in a pyrotechnic display as brushstrokes are huge, colours are riotous and composition is not predetermined by a recognisable image. It lacks the serene and imposing repose of his earlier canvases. The artwork was sold for $80 million in 2006, making it the most expensive painting to be sold by a living artist.— M.I.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, April 26th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play