Interview 1955

Robert Rauschenberg made this assemblage, Interview, using oil on wood, found objects, and photographs, all crammed together. It’s like walking into the artist’s mind. Imagine Rauschenberg pulling together all these bits and pieces. It seems that he might have been thinking, "How can I make a painting that's not just a flat surface, but an actual space?" The red block on the right side has these drips, thick and gloppy. It’s like the painting is sweating, pushing its way into the world. And that old door! It’s ajar, inviting you in. You can almost feel Rauschenberg rummaging through his studio, grabbing whatever caught his eye. It reminds me of Kurt Schwitters, another artist who made art from junk. Artists are always talking to each other, even across time. It makes me wonder, what conversation is Rauschenberg having here? It's ambiguous, for sure. I think it’s about how painting can be anything you want it to be.