Untitled (Early Egyptian) 1973

In this ‘Untitled (Early Egyptian)’ artwork, Rauschenberg—well, he wasn’t painting here, was he? It feels like he’s building, like a kid making a fort, but with grown-up materials and a Dada-esque sensibility. I imagine Rauschenberg in his studio, surrounded by found objects, concrete blocks, a length of wood, some rope and a piece of bright red fabric—the kind of stuff you might find in a theatre costume department— piecing this sculpture together. You know, Rauschenberg was always pushing boundaries. Here he takes these everyday materials and assembles them into something that feels both ancient and modern. The concrete blocks, stacked one on top of the other, give it a monumental quality, while the rough-hewn wood and the way the fabric just hangs there, it’s kind of raw and unresolved. That red fabric against the gray concrete creates a striking contrast—a bold, defiant splash of color that draws you in. It reminds me a bit of Kurt Schwitters’ Merzbau, this idea of creating a total environment out of found materials. They’re all in conversation, aren't they?