Robert Rauschenberg: The Value Of Art

When we look back at the history of art, we can see the expression of a plethora of subjects such as the human condition and many other themes of the same nature. As time progresses, this form of human expression will be regarded as a highly valuable facet in our lives, as it also marked important times in our history. But what is it that makes the works of artists valuable? Is it because of its inimitability? Or is it because it makes us deeply contemplative and philosophical? Or perhaps it was deemed important by prestigious academies and wealthy individuals. All these possibilities lead people to argue that these ideals could lead to art being highly elitist and inaccessible to the masses, which in many cases, it was. At some point in history, a group of people looked at these principles and thought, with a sense of irreverence, that it was not important at all. The art that they produce lead us to better understanding the mindset behind the work. It leads us to ask certain questions about the established values of art. We could ask ourselves why something has to be unique or limited in quantity to be qualified

One of the first artists that began to democratize both the creation and consumption of art was Robert Rauschenberg. Rauschenberg was born in 1925 on the state of Texas. None of his family members were fond of or interested in art, but Rauschenberg slowly developed his interests on it after time. He was admitted to the University of Texas, and was drafted in the navy in 1943. When he was discharged from the navy two years later, he went on to study in the Academy of Julian. At that place, he met another aspiring artist named Susan Weil. She helped play a role in Rauschenberg’s artistic path. Because He was inspired and connected to her so well, that when she moved to another art school, named Black Mountain college, He followed