Revenue (Spread) 1980

Editor: Here we have Robert Rauschenberg's "Revenue (Spread)." The Tate tells us this piece is undated. It’s a large mixed media work, with paint, collage, and found objects. The composition feels... chaotic, yet purposeful. What do you make of the arrangement of elements? Curator: The beauty of "Revenue (Spread)" lies precisely in that tension. Notice how Rauschenberg utilizes the grid structure, yet disrupts it with the jutting wooden board and folding screen. How does the juxtaposition of flat collage and protruding objects alter your perception of space? Editor: It makes it feel very shallow, almost like everything is pushing forward. Curator: Precisely. The interplay of textures and planes—from the smooth, photographic transfers to the rough, tactile surfaces of the found objects—creates a visual push and pull. What is the effect of that, do you think? Editor: It's like a visual feast, constantly moving the eye. I'm starting to see a deliberate structure within the chaos. Curator: Indeed. Rauschenberg masterfully orchestrates these disparate elements to create a dynamic and engaging composition.