The Tower 1957

Robert Rauschenberg made this sculptural piece, "The Tower," out of found objects – a quirky assemblage that invites a double-take. The surface texture is where it gets interesting, right? Each element has its own story, its own wear and tear. Take that painted panel with the broom—the colors are laid on in these broad, almost haphazard strokes, yet somehow, it all comes together. It’s like he's saying, hey, art is just life, and life is messy. I love how the umbrella sits perched on top, like a final, slightly absurd punctuation mark. It reminds me of Kurt Schwitters, maybe, in the way he elevates the everyday to something poetic, but with Rauschenberg, there’s always this sense of humor, a wink. Art isn’t about perfection, it’s about the conversation.