BED by Robert Rauschenberg
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A Comprehensive Art Analysis of
BED
Artist: Robert Rauschenberg
Title:
BED
Date: 1955
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Robert Rauschenberg's 1955 art,
Bed
, is pivotal in art history due to its inventive
approach and position within the broader 20th-century art movements. This piece is part of
Rauschenberg's initial "Combine" series that defies conventional conventions of art by
combining everyday items with the canvas.
Bed'
s impact lies in its technique, pioneering
approach, and meaning. Rauschenberg, significant in the American art scene, invented a new
dimension to art by integrating his own personal bedclothes into his work.
Bed
is of huge importance in contemporary art as among the early "Combines," which he
coined to define pieces that integrate a variety of found objects and things into a traditional
artistic framework (Parkinson 11). In
Bed
, he mounted a worn-out pillow, quilt, and sheet, then
jotted on them using a pencil before adding paint. This method defied the old-style ideas of art,
paving the way for the Pop Art movement. Rauschenberg's readiness to integrate everyday,
discarded items into his artwork established a new way of engaging with art that reverberated
with the developing consumer culture of the post-World War II era. Additionally, the personal
nature of
Bed
adds complexity to its importance (Parkinson 11). It is supposed that the
bedclothes used in this artwork were Rauschenberg's own, making this piece as intimate as a
self-portrait. Thus, Rauschenberg exceeds the purely visual aspects of art and involves the
personal and emotional.
An American artist, Rauschenberg, situates
Bed
within the context of the American art
scene, a period characterized by profound artistic transitions. During this era, artists challenged
conventional norms and ventured into new realms of expression.
Bed
finds strong affiliations
with the Neo-Dada and Pop Art movements. Neo-Dada, a precursor to Pop Art, was known for
its use of everyday objects and a boldly irreverent approach to the art world (Harris 564). The
neo-Dada movement emerged in the 1950s as a reaction against the gravitas of Abstract
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Expressionism. Neo-Dada artists like Rauschenberg rejected the conventional confines of art and
integrated found objects and materials into their work. The Neo-Dada movement sought to
challenge established definitions of art, much akin to the original Dada movement from the early
20th century.
Bed
is a prototypical example of this movement, as Rauschenberg combined the
essentials of painting and sculpture with ordinary objects. Pop Art gained prominence in the late
1950s, and artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein continued to delve into analogous
themes, further cementing the deep-rooted connection between
Bed
and the burgeoning Pop Art
movement (
Orlandini 191)
.
Thus,
Bed
is a mixed-media masterpiece that uses everyday materials from the
artist’s life and is evocative of the expressive style characteristic of Abstract Expressionism.
Utilizing objects related to sleep and comfort presents an intimate and personal dimension to the
work, thus blurring the difference between the artist's life as well as his art. Combining the
ordinary with painterly motions creates a blatant contrast, compelling viewers to think of the
relationship between art and life. Rauschenberg's use of these materials challenges the traditional
ideas of a canvas, extending the horizons of artistic expression.
This art piece is a trailblazing masterpiece with a noteworthy place in art. It is firmly
entrenched in the Neo-Dada movement and demonstrates Rauschenberg's relentless commitment
to redefining traditional artistic limitations. By integrating his
Bed
clothes, Rauschenberg infuses
the artwork with deep individual meaning, urging viewers to envisage the juncture of art and life.
Bed
is a pivotal work in Rauschenberg's body, showcasing his bold examination of uncharted
artistic territories and stimulating viewers to challenge preconceived notions of creative
expression.
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Works Cited
Harris, Steven. "EROS, c'est la vie."
Art History
43.3 (2020): 564-587.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1467-8365.12508
NoMA. Robert Rauschenberg
, Bed. The Museum of Modern Art.
(2023).
https://www.moma.org/collection/works/78712?
artist_id=4823&page=1&sov_referrer=artist
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Orlandini, Marisa Volpi. "Pop Art." Art in Translation 14.2 (2022): 191-203.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17561310.2022.2085466
Parkinson, Gavin. "Monogram in Front Unique: Robert Rauschenberg and Jean-Jacques Lebel at
the Limits of Surrealism." Dada/Surrealism 24.1 (2023).
Monogram in Front Unique:
Robert Rauschenberg and Jean-Jacques Lebel at the Limits of Surrealism
(researchgate.net)