Persimmon 1964

This is Rauschenberg’s “Persimmon,” and I’m just diving into all the layers of images, colors, and textures, you know? The way Rauschenberg combines a classical female figure with urban scenes and everyday objects is kinda like a visual puzzle. I find myself bouncing between the creamy yellows and oranges of the figure and the grittier reds and browns of the cityscape, like my eyes are doing a dance. And down in the corner there is a stack of cans, or something, sitting on a table. Look at how he uses these translucent washes of color. It's like he’s inviting us to see through the layers, to think about how images and ideas overlap and influence each other. It reminds me that art is a conversation that’s been going on for centuries, and Rauschenberg is right in there, adding his own voice to the mix. Like Jasper Johns, he’s showing us how to see the world in a new way.