The Art of Robert Rauschenberg

Robert Rauschenberg, the "father of Pop," creates works of art by arranging photographs and mixed-medias with methods of "chance and indeterminacy [Gardner, 1059]." The appearances of his paintings give the viewer a sense that the world and America, although chaotic, can maintain equilibrium. His painting, entitled "Estate," shows equality and coexistence through a street scene in New York City. Typical creations by him also reflect this essence through his unusual techniques, which originate from influential artists and his personal, and often unconscious, artistic decisions.

Many of the techniques as well as opinions Rauschenberg utilizes come from the influence of composer John Cage. His idea that art should directly link to life and the self persuaded Rauschenberg to create works that displayed ordinary scenes in extraordinary ways. In his own work, Cage tried to avoid the format normally used when creating musical compositions of that time period. Rauschenberg applies a parallel approach with his art form by starting a new and unconventional style, Pop Art. Cage also believed that art should be a direct link to life itself, a theory Rauschenberg firmly practiced. Although his paintings do not seem to be the most direct link, their abstract nature reflects the disorder of America.