Savarin 2 (Line and Wash) is one of five black-and-white and color lithographs and additional monotypes of his iconic coffee can and brushes that Jasper Johns made in 1978. This group of prints revisits an important theme that first appeared in John's art in 1960 when he made Painted Bronze, a sculpture representing a Savarin  brand coffee can with paint brishes in turpentine. Since then, Johns has occasionally returned to explore the theme in his paintings and prints. Johns said that he as fascinated by the idea of a can made for one purpose serving another function. Some writers have interpreted the image as standing for the working artist--Johns himself. Although Johns undoubtedly enjoyed this play on words, the subtitle "Line and Wash" refers to the tusche lithograph technique he used, rather than to laundry.

Source: News, Jan Feb Mar 2014