Presents 170 reproductions of Jasper Johns artworks from the first decade of his career, as well as archival photos of Johns in his studio, and includes five essays.

Catalog of an exhibition at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, Jan. 28-Apr. 29, 2007; and at the Kunstmuseum, Basel, June 2 -Sept. 9, 2007.

Director's foreword / Earl A. Powell III -- Preface / Jeffrey Weiss -- Lenders to the exhibition -- Painting bitten by a man / Jeffrey Weiss -- Catalogue and checklist -- The color and compass of things : Paul Czanne and the early work of Jasper Johns / Kathryn A. Tuma -- Diver : a delay / John Elderfield -- Jasper Johns : the first decade / Robert Morris -- A sum of corrections / Carol Mancusi-Ungaro -- Chronology.