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Photography by Steven Watson

Untitled

Using imagery sourced from newspapers, magazines, and his own photographs, Robert Rauschenberg presents a somewhat mysterious composition. If the traffic signs, Coca-Cola logo, stenciled letters, and street scene feels a little overwhelming, then Rauschenberg’s work is delivering on its goal. Instead of replicating the intentions of advertising and street signs—succinctly communicating a specific message—he chose instead to create a murkier work that visualizes the constant barrage of information experienced in daily life.

ArtistRobert Rauschenberg(1925-2008)
Date1963
MediumOil, graphite, and screen print on canvas
Dimensions41 3/4 x 53 1/8 x 2 in.
Credit LineCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2009.7
ClassificationPainting
Provenanceto (Galerie Yvon Lambert); to Private Collection; to (Christie's, New York, NY), 2009; purchased by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR, 2009
On ViewNo
Untitled41.8 × 53.1 in.Tennis Ball2.7 in. diameter

This artwork's face covers about 304× the area of a tennis ball.Drawn to the same scale.