Ode to Jasper Johns, Pair of Rusty c. 1950s Flat Top Ballantine Beer Cans

Regular price $20.00

Sold: set A

I found a handful of old Ballantine beer cans a few years ago, which I bought  in homage to Jasper Johns, who made them icons of art history through his Painted Bronze (Ale Cans), 1960.  As the story goes, Bill de Kooning told Johns "you could give that son-of-a-bitch two beer cans and he could sell them," referring to Leo Castelli, to which Johns responded, "what a wonderful idea for a sculpture.” Of course there is much more to the story than this, with the representation of these cans being perfectly aligned with John's artistic and conceptual interests... but indeed, once he'd made the sculpture, Castelli sold it.

I haven't come across any Ballantine cans since, so scooped these--much rusted--ones when I found them in New Hampshire this week. Sold as a set of two, in keeping with John's sculpture of a pair, with three sets available. 

Cans measure approx 4 3/4" t x 2 3/4" d. Price is for A PAIR. I've included photos of each pair, all pretty equivalent, but if you have a preference for one particular set, please note it at checkout.