Label TextRauschenberg, along with Jasper Johns and others, helped bridge the gap between Abstract Expressionism and Pop art. While Johns painted “things the mind already knows”, such as targets or flags, Rauschenberg expanded the boundaries even further by incorporating everyday objects, texts, and photographs into his paintings. Rauschenberg called Talisman and similar works created in the late 1950s and early 1960s ‘combines,’ expressing his idea that “painting relates to both art and life. Neither can be made…I try to act in the gap between the two.” The work also blurs the distinction between painting and sculpture, containing elements of both. The faded photograph, rough wood, and warm colors lend Talisman a sense of nostalgia. “Talisman” means a charm or object worn for protection.
Exhibition History"Robert Raushenberg: Combines", The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, December 20, 2005 - April 2, 2006; The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, May 21 - September 11, 2006
"Commitment, Community and Controversy: The Des Moines Art Center Collections," Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 24 - May 10, 1998
"Rauschenberg Sculpture," Fort Worth Museum of Modern Art, Oct. 22 - Dec. 31, 1995; (Circulated to: Miami Museum of Contemporary Art, Apr. 25 - June 9, 1996)
"Extended Loan," Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Oct. 7, 1983 - Nov. 7, 1984
"Robert Rauschenberg," National Collection of Fine Arts, Washington, D. C., Oct. 30, 1976 - Jan. 2, 1977; (Circulated to: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, June 24 - Aug. 21, 1977; Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY, Sept. 23 - Oct. 30, 1977; Art Institute of Chicago Dec. 3 - Jan. 15, 1978)
"Classics of Contemporary Art from the Maremont Collection," Phoenix Art Museum, AZ, May - Nov. 1968, cat. # 26.
"Treasures of 20th Century Art from the Maremont Collection," Washington Gallery of Modern Art, Washington, D. C., Apr. 1 - May 3, 1964
"Robert Rauschenberg," Jewish Museum, New York, Mar. 30 - May 15, 1963
"Art of Assemblage," Museum of Modern Art, New York, Oct. 2 - Nov. 12, 1961; (Circulated to: Dallas, Museum of Contemporary Arts, Jan. 9 - Feb. 11, 1962; San Francisco Museum of Contemporary Art, Mar. 5 - Apr. 15, 1962)
"Maremont Collection of Twentieth Century Art," Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Apr. 5 - 30, 1961
"But - Is It Art?," University of Chicago Renaissance Society, Chicago, Oct. 17 - Nov. 12, 1960
"First Paris Biennale," Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, France, Oct. 2 - 25, 1959
"69th Annual Exhibition," University of Nebraska Art Galleries, Lincoln, Mar. 1 - 31, 1959
Published References"69th Annual Exhibition," University of Nebraska Art Galleries, Lincoln, 1959, exh. cat. no.92, ill.
"But - is it Art?" The Renaissance Society, University of Chicago, 1960, exh. cat. no.21
John Cage, "On Robert Rauschenberg and His Work," METRO 2, 1961, ref. p.50, ill. pl.19, p. 51
"Maremont Collection of Twentieth Century Art," Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, 1961, exh. cat. no.99
"Art of Assemblage," Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1961, exh. cat. no.170, p.162
4 AMERIKANARE: JASPAR JOHNS, ALFRED LESLIE, ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG, RICHARD STANKIEWICZ, Moderana Museet, Stockholm, 1962, exh. cat. ill. p.52 (not in exhibition)
"Robert Rauschenberg," Jewish Museum, NY, 1963, exh. cat. no.19, ill.
"Treasures of 20th Century Art from the Maremont Collection," Washington Gallery of Modern Art, Washington, D. C., 1964, exh. cat. no.115
LIFE MAGAZINE, Nov. 24, 1966, ill. p.66
"Classics of Modern Art from the Maremont Collection," Phoenix Art Museum, 1968, exh. cat. no.7, ill.
DMAC Bulletin, Oct. 1969, cover ill.
Andrew Forge, RAUSCHENBERG, Harry Abrams, 1969, ill. pl. no.23, p.46
DES MOINES SUNDAY REGISTER, Nov. 2, 1969, ill.
EXTRAIT DE LA GAZETTE DES BEAUX-ARTS, No. 1213, Feb. 1970, ill. pl. no.416, p.94
ARTS QUARTERLY, Vol. XXXIII, Spring 1970, ill. p.95
"Robert Rauschenberg," National Collection of Fine Arts, Washington, D. C., 1976, exh. cat. no.57, ill. p.96
PARIS - NEW YORK, Musée National d'Art Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, 1977, exh. cat. ill. p.146 (not in exhibition)
THE NATHAN EMORY COFFIN COLLECTION, a portfolio of fifty selections from the collection, published by the Des Moines Art Center to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Nathan Emory Coffin, 1981, color ill.
DES MOINES ART CENTER: SELECTED PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES AND WORKS ON PAPER, Des Moines Art Center, 1985, ref. p.179, color ill. pl.XXV, p.121
"Rauschenberg Sculpture," Fort Worth Museum of Modern Art, 1995, exh. cat. p.100, color pl.81
AN UNCOMMON VISION: THE DES MOINES ART CENTER, Des Moines Art Center, 1998, ref. p.230, color ill. p.231
"Robert Rauschenberg: Combines", The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles and Steidl Verlag, 2005, pgs. 94 (color ill.), 296 (ref.)
"Robert Rauschenberg: Combines", edition Francaise, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles ,Steidl Verlag, and Centre Pompidou, 2006, pgs. 94 (color ill.), 296 (ref.)
"Robert Rauschenberg: Combines", Swedish Edition, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles ,Steidl Verlag, and Moderna Museet, 2007, pgs. 94 (color ill.), 296 (ref.)
Exhibition History"Robert Raushenberg: Combines", The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, December 20, 2005 - April 2, 2006; The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, May 21 - September 11, 2006
"Commitment, Community and Controversy: The Des Moines Art Center Collections," Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 24 - May 10, 1998
"Rauschenberg Sculpture," Fort Worth Museum of Modern Art, Oct. 22 - Dec. 31, 1995; (Circulated to: Miami Museum of Contemporary Art, Apr. 25 - June 9, 1996)
"Extended Loan," Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Oct. 7, 1983 - Nov. 7, 1984
"Robert Rauschenberg," National Collection of Fine Arts, Washington, D. C., Oct. 30, 1976 - Jan. 2, 1977; (Circulated to: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, June 24 - Aug. 21, 1977; Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY, Sept. 23 - Oct. 30, 1977; Art Institute of Chicago Dec. 3 - Jan. 15, 1978)
"Classics of Contemporary Art from the Maremont Collection," Phoenix Art Museum, AZ, May - Nov. 1968, cat. # 26.
"Treasures of 20th Century Art from the Maremont Collection," Washington Gallery of Modern Art, Washington, D. C., Apr. 1 - May 3, 1964
"Robert Rauschenberg," Jewish Museum, New York, Mar. 30 - May 15, 1963
"Art of Assemblage," Museum of Modern Art, New York, Oct. 2 - Nov. 12, 1961; (Circulated to: Dallas, Museum of Contemporary Arts, Jan. 9 - Feb. 11, 1962; San Francisco Museum of Contemporary Art, Mar. 5 - Apr. 15, 1962)
"Maremont Collection of Twentieth Century Art," Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Apr. 5 - 30, 1961
"But - Is It Art?," University of Chicago Renaissance Society, Chicago, Oct. 17 - Nov. 12, 1960
"First Paris Biennale," Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, France, Oct. 2 - 25, 1959
"69th Annual Exhibition," University of Nebraska Art Galleries, Lincoln, Mar. 1 - 31, 1959
Published References"69th Annual Exhibition," University of Nebraska Art Galleries, Lincoln, 1959, exh. cat. no.92, ill.
"But - is it Art?" The Renaissance Society, University of Chicago, 1960, exh. cat. no.21
John Cage, "On Robert Rauschenberg and His Work," METRO 2, 1961, ref. p.50, ill. pl.19, p. 51
"Maremont Collection of Twentieth Century Art," Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, 1961, exh. cat. no.99
"Art of Assemblage," Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1961, exh. cat. no.170, p.162
4 AMERIKANARE: JASPAR JOHNS, ALFRED LESLIE, ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG, RICHARD STANKIEWICZ, Moderana Museet, Stockholm, 1962, exh. cat. ill. p.52 (not in exhibition)
"Robert Rauschenberg," Jewish Museum, NY, 1963, exh. cat. no.19, ill.
"Treasures of 20th Century Art from the Maremont Collection," Washington Gallery of Modern Art, Washington, D. C., 1964, exh. cat. no.115
LIFE MAGAZINE, Nov. 24, 1966, ill. p.66
"Classics of Modern Art from the Maremont Collection," Phoenix Art Museum, 1968, exh. cat. no.7, ill.
DMAC Bulletin, Oct. 1969, cover ill.
Andrew Forge, RAUSCHENBERG, Harry Abrams, 1969, ill. pl. no.23, p.46
DES MOINES SUNDAY REGISTER, Nov. 2, 1969, ill.
EXTRAIT DE LA GAZETTE DES BEAUX-ARTS, No. 1213, Feb. 1970, ill. pl. no.416, p.94
ARTS QUARTERLY, Vol. XXXIII, Spring 1970, ill. p.95
"Robert Rauschenberg," National Collection of Fine Arts, Washington, D. C., 1976, exh. cat. no.57, ill. p.96
PARIS - NEW YORK, Musée National d'Art Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, 1977, exh. cat. ill. p.146 (not in exhibition)
THE NATHAN EMORY COFFIN COLLECTION, a portfolio of fifty selections from the collection, published by the Des Moines Art Center to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Nathan Emory Coffin, 1981, color ill.
DES MOINES ART CENTER: SELECTED PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES AND WORKS ON PAPER, Des Moines Art Center, 1985, ref. p.179, color ill. pl.XXV, p.121
"Rauschenberg Sculpture," Fort Worth Museum of Modern Art, 1995, exh. cat. p.100, color pl.81
AN UNCOMMON VISION: THE DES MOINES ART CENTER, Des Moines Art Center, 1998, ref. p.230, color ill. p.231
"Robert Rauschenberg: Combines", The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles and Steidl Verlag, 2005, pgs. 94 (color ill.), 296 (ref.)
"Robert Rauschenberg: Combines", edition Francaise, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles ,Steidl Verlag, and Centre Pompidou, 2006, pgs. 94 (color ill.), 296 (ref.)
"Robert Rauschenberg: Combines", Swedish Edition, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles ,Steidl Verlag, and Moderna Museet, 2007, pgs. 94 (color ill.), 296 (ref.)
DimensionsFrame: 42 3/4 × 28 5/8 × 1 5/8 in. (108.6 × 72.7 × 4.1 cm)
Canvas: 42 1/4 × 28 × 3 3/4 in. (107.3 × 71.1 × 9.5 cm)
Canvas: 42 1/4 × 28 × 3 3/4 in. (107.3 × 71.1 × 9.5 cm)
Accession Number 1969.7
Classificationspainting
Copyright© Robert Rauschenberg Foundation/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY
ProvenanceArtist; (Leo Castelli Gallery, New York); Mr. and Mrs. Arnold H. Maremont, Winnetka, IL [acquired by 1960]; (B. C. Holland Gallery, Chicago, IL); Des Moines Art Center [purchased from the previous, 1969]
Collections
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