Robert RauschenbergAmerican, 1925–200811-81-C-3A #3
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Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the work
Robert Rauschenberg, one of the most celebrated practitioners of Pop Art, began his career as a photographer. His street photography from New York, Boston, and Los Angeles (where this work was made) appears in his series Photos In + Out City Limits. Much of Rauschenberg’s painting utilizes assemblage, and here he has captured a sort of found collage of seemingly disparate elements: a public water fountain, “Holy Water” sign, free pamphlets, and a small, hanging bell. With deadpan humor, the image singles out these offers of salvation found by chance on an urban street.
Art Institute of ChicagoCC BY 4.0
Particulars
- Accession number
- 1992.594
In the catalog
Sources
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Image: Art Institute of Chicago — © the artist or rights holder
Meanwhile, in the life of Robert Rauschenberg
The whole life1949–1952
Meets Cy Twombly at the Art Students League
From 1949 to 1952 Rauschenberg studied at the Art Students League of New York under Vaclav Vytlacil and Morris Kantor and met fellow artists Knox Martin and Cy Twombly there.
1952
Takes part in John Cage's first Happening
At Black Mountain College Rauschenberg took part in John Cage's “Theatre Piece No. 1” (1952), often considered the first Happening. Cage, a kindred spirit, supported him in his early years, and their friendship and collaboration lasted for decades.
autumn 1952 – spring 1953
Travels in Italy and North Africa with Cy Twombly
From the autumn of 1952 to the spring of 1953 Rauschenberg travelled in Italy and North Africa with his fellow artist and partner Cy Twombly. There he made collages and small sculptures out of found materials, the “Scatole Personali” (Personal Boxes) and “Feticci Personali” (Personal Fetishes).
1953
Joint show with Cy Twombly at the Stable Gallery
Eleanor Ward invited Rauschenberg to a joint exhibition with Cy Twombly at her Stable Gallery in New York; in the autumn of 1953 the gallery also showed his “White Paintings”.
1953
First European exhibition, in Rome
In Italy Rauschenberg was noticed by Irene Brin and Gaspero del Corso, who organised his first European exhibition in their famous gallery in Rome; he also showed in Florence. To his surprise a number of works sold, and many of those that did not he threw into the river Arno, following the suggestion of an art critic who had reviewed his show.
1954–1961
Lives with the artist Jasper Johns
From 1954 to 1961 Rauschenberg lived with his partner, the artist Jasper Johns. They constantly exchanged ideas and took part in each other's work, but never made objects under joint authorship.
