Robert Rauschenberg

 Robert Rauschenberg

Rauschenberg was a Texas native. He was enlisted in the U.S. Navy before ever becoming an artist. He believed that painting related to life and art. In his early years he experimented with painting, photography, print-making, sculpture, and drawing. What I am going to talk about is how Rauschenberg used his knowledge to create cyanotypes. A lot of his works were used by models and everyday objects he found. What I think that is really interesting is that a lot of his works do not use negatives or photographs, he uses the pure essences of people and objects.

One of his works that stood out to me was this one here below: 

I like this one because it stood out to me. It stood out to me because of the odd shape and position the people were placed in. It looks like one subject was crouched holding another persons hands. The other subject on top seems to be upside down holding the other mans hands. I think this cyanotype is interesting because again, it does not use a negative, but uses the person as the main subject in this. I think the lighting is done very well. It even fades out in some areas which I tend to like. I think Rauschenberg's work stands out to me because a lot of his lighting and coloring of the paper and chemicals are not perfect. I like when things are kind of messy, this is why this one stands out to me.

Another work of Rauschenberg's that stood out to me was a cyanotype that consisted of a tape device with the film spilling out of it. The photo I wanted to show does not show up on here so I will explain it anyway:

I like this cyanotype because I can see everyday objects being used to create this cyanotype. It seems to me that he used an old tape and drug out the film that was inside. I like this one because again it is messy, the lines flow where they want and it all stems from the everyday object of the tape. I think this one is very well coated on the paper and it is very blue and interesting. 

I think for my final project I will be doing cyanotypes, maybe not in Rauschenberg's style, but I like the blues and I like how cyanotypes can be anything you want them to be with the single use of lighting. 

-Bronwen Lewis