Copperhead Grande/ROCI CHILE 1985

Robert Rauschenberg made this mixed-media painting called *Copperhead Grande/ROCI CHILE*, and right away I’m struck by how he builds up the surface, layering different images and textures. You can almost feel him experimenting, pushing the materials to see what they can do. The physicality of this piece is so present. The paint is thin in some areas, thick in others, almost like a collage. There's a tension between the flat, printed imagery and the more gestural brushstrokes. Look at that central copper area, with those drippy green lines and scratchy marks. It’s like he's creating a landscape, but also dismantling it at the same time. Rauschenberg reminds me of Sigmar Polke, both artists playing with chance and accident, letting the materials guide the process. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t have to be precious or perfect, it can be messy and open-ended.