Questions

What’s going on in this painting?

What do you see that makes you say that?

What more can you find?

Some context for the artwork

The artist Robert Rauschenberg played a part in founding the Pop Art movement in America, which worked to broaden the scope of art and discover the ways art intersects with life. Rauschenberg celebrated benign imagery and would often use, or take inspiration from, discarded materials. In Manuscript, Rauschenberg is reusing everyday images found in newspapers and books to capture a contentious moment when the United States became enmeshed in the Vietnam War.

Activity

Rauschenberg made his viewer look closely at seemingly mundane things, stating, “My art is about paying attention.” Scan the room you’re in and find something that interests you—it could be a bench, your shoes, or even a shadow on the wall. After looking closely, snap at least five images. Get up close, try portrait vs. landscape orientation, or change the filter to grayscale. How did your perception of the object change as you took different photos?

A little about the technique we’re using

Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is a research-based technique for looking at works of art either individually or with a group. Repeat these questions as many times as it takes for you to find a connection to the work. The goal of VTS is to look closely, not to arrive at a particular meaning or solution.