Encounters with Rauschenberg: (A Lavishly Illustrated Lecture)

By Leo Steinberg

Book Overview

In his insightful and engrossing lecture, Leo Steinberg surveys and critiques the work of Robert Rauschenberg, one of the great American post-war artists. He also discusses his own experience as a critic in the exciting and turbulent art world of New York in the 1950s and 1960s. The result is a rare glimpse not only into Rauschenberg, but also into Steinberg.

With the sharpness and confidence that can only come from a critic who has long been involved with Rauschenberg's work, Steinberg offers an in-depth discussion of such major pieces as the Erased DeKooning Drawing, Bed, and Monogram. He explains the subtle differences between his interpretations and those of other critics, such as Clement Greenberg and Hilton Kramer. He candidly reflects on how he has changed his mind over the years, and defends his new ideas about Rauschenberg's work with precise, fresh arguments. He critically evaluates Rauschenberg's more recent work and addresses how it falls short from the artist's earlier work.

From Rauschenberg's silk-screen prints of the 1960s to the vegetable dye transfer prints of the 1990s, Steinberg warns against the dangers of overinterpretation and iconographic enthusiasm. He argues that the unifying strand through this great artist's work is his drive to appropriate, to take objects and images from the world and make them his own by making them become a part of his art.

Provocative, intelligent, and beautifully articulated, Steinberg's words shed light on one remarkable artist and on the post-war New York art scene, on Steinberg's particular appreciation of Rauschenberg and on his life's work as an art critic.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0226771830
• ISBN13: 9780226771830
• Release Date: May 2000
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Length: 85 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 7.0" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

The majority of works shown in full color.

I agree that this small book is engaging and a fun read. Even more, I thought the images of Rauschenberg's work were very well chosen and by far the majority in color. I was shocked that Mary Lynn Kotz chose to show Rauschenberg's "Winter Pool" in black and white (tragedy!)in her book, "Rauschenberg/Art And Life"...it is in full color in this gem. I would buy this book first.

A gem of a book

This is not a typical lecture. It is Leo Steinberg at his best--witty, learned, insightful--giving us a brief survey of Robert Rauschenburg's art from the early 1950s until the present day. The book is beautifully designed and printed, and makes a great gift for anyone interested in the New York art scene. A lot of book for the buck.