Sor Aqua (Venetian) 1973

Robert Rauschenberg made this assemblage, Sor Aqua (Venetian), from found materials. It's about seeing what’s already there, the overlooked textures and objects in the world. Look at how the rusted metal and weathered wood are arranged. The textures are rough, and each material has its own history written on its surface. The metal is bent and torn, reflecting light in unpredictable ways. Below, the old bathtub, with its chipped paint, holds a murky pool. A thin cord descends into the water, connecting the disparate elements. That cord, like a plumb line, seems to pull the whole piece together. It's delicate, almost fragile, in contrast to the heavy, industrial feel of the metal and the aged, sturdy presence of the bathtub. Rauschenberg's work always struck me as a conversation, a bit like Kurt Schwitters. He invites you to look, not for answers, but for a sense of wonder in the everyday. It's art that embraces ambiguity and trusts the viewer to find their own meaning.