Summary of Rauschenberg, Johns, and Postwar American Art

## Introduction This learning resource summarizes selected works by a prominent modern artist and offers an analytical framework for their study within the context of artistic practice, techniques, and significance. This material is designed for undergraduate students who require a structured approach to interpreting individual works and understanding their interrelationships. > Definition: "Selected works" refers to a representative collection of the artist's works that illustrate key periods, techniques, and themes in their work. ## Overview of Selected Works Selected works (listed chronologically): - *Flag* (1954–55) - *White Flag* (1955) - *Target with Plaster Casts* (1955) - *Tango* (1955) - *Target with Four Faces* (1955) - *Three Flags* (1958) - *Numbers in Color* (1958–59) - *Device Circle* (1959) - *False Start* (1959) - *Coat Hanger* (1960) - *Painting with Two Balls* (1960) - *Painted Bronze* (1960) - *Painting with Ruler and 'Gray'* (1960) - *Painting Bitten by a Man* (1961) - *The Critic Sees* (1961) - *Target* (1961) - *Map* (1961) - *Device* (1961–62) - *Study for Skin I* (1962) - *Diver* (1962–63) - *Periscope (Hart Crane)* (1963) - *Voice* (1964/67) - *Untitled (Skull)* (1973) - *Tantric Detail I, II, III* (1980) - *Usuyuki* (1981) - *Perilous Night* (1982) - *The Seasons* (1987) - *Green Angel* (1990) - *After Hans Holbein* (1993) - *Bridge* (1997) - *Regrets* (2013) - *Slice* (2020) ### Thematic Groupings 1. Early Periods and Iconic Works (1954–1959) - Focus on symbols and simplified forms: *Flag*, *Target* series 2. Experiments with Material and Technique (1959–1963) - Diverse objects and object-based painting: *Device Circle*, *Painted Bronze* 3. Later Reflections and Symbolism (1973–2020) - Themes of memory, historical references, and series: *Untitled (Skull)*, *After Hans Holbein*, *Regrets* > Definition: A "thematic group" is a collection of works united by a shared artistic intent, technique, or period of creation. ## Analytical Approaches for Studying a Work We'll break down the analysis into understandable steps that you can apply to any work from the list. 1. Context and Dating - Determine the year/period of creation. - Find out what was being discussed in the art world at that time. 2. Materials and Technique - Identify the medium used (e.g., canvas, cast iron, objects). 3. Composition and Form - Describe the arrangement of elements, color scheme, and space. 4. Iconography and Symbolism - Look for recurring motifs and their possible meanings. 5. Reception and Influence - Consider how the work influenced other artists or curatorial practices. > Definition: "Iconography" is the study of symbols and pictorial motifs and their meaning within a work. ### Practical Example of Applying the Procedure Apply the steps to *Three Flags* (1958): - Context: late 1950s, discussions about the identity of the image and national symbols. - Materials: layering of painted flags (painting on canvas, possibly an assemblage). - Composition: triple vertical axis, diminishing scale creates a spatial illusion. - Symbolism: draws upon a national icon while simultaneously decontextualizing it. - Reception: the work became a frequently cited example of the deconstruction of traditional iconography. ## Comparison Table of Selected Works | Work | Year(s) | Main Technique | Main Theme | Note on Significance | |---|---:|---|---|---| | Flag | 1954–55 | Painting/Object | Symbolism of the national flag | Early example of symbolic work | | Three Flags | 1958 | Painting (layering) | Repetition, scale | Known for its layered composition | | Painted Bronze | 1960 | Cast bronze | Readymade / transformation | Engagement with everyday objects | | Untitled (Skull) | 1973 | Painting/thematic series | Mortality symbolism | Reflection on death and tradition | ## Techniques and Their Interpretations - Canvas Painting: a traditional medium, often involving the deconstruction of painting itself in the context