Untitled Formerly Titled Collage With Horse 1957 by Robert Rauschenberg
Untitled Formerly Titled Collage With Horse
Rauschenberg’s 1957 Collage: Where Found Objects Become Fine Art
Few works capture the raw energy of mid-century American art like Robert Rauschenberg’s Untitled Formerly Titled Collage With Horse. Created in 1957, this piece emerged during a pivotal moment when Rauschenberg was dismantling the boundaries between painting and sculpture. The collage—part of his groundbreaking Combines series—juxtaposes a printed horse, fabric swatches, and found paper against a textured ground, embodying the artist’s belief that “painting relates to both art and life.” Unlike the Abstract Expressionists who dominated the era, Rauschenberg insisted on incorporating the mundane, the discarded, and the overlooked into his compositions.
This work arrived just two years after his infamous Erased de Kooning Drawing (1953), a piece that questioned authorship by obliterating another artist’s marks. By 1957, Rauschenberg had fully embraced assemblage, pulling materials from the streets of New York and his own studio debris. The horse motif—recurring in his oeuvre—here takes on a fragmented, almost ghostly presence, layered beneath scrawled text and smudged pigments. As the Museum of Modern Art notes, his Combines “challenged the viewer to complete the work through their own associations,” a radical departure from the self-contained canvases of his peers.
The Artist’s Neo-Dada Period: When Trash Became Treasure
By 1957, Rauschenberg had firmly aligned himself with the Neo-Dada movement, a loose collective of artists—including Jasper Johns and John Cage—who rejected the solemnity of Abstract Expressionism in favor of irony, humor, and the everyday. His Combines, as these hybrid works were later dubbed, merged painting with three-dimensional objects, blurring the line between mediums. Untitled Formerly Titled Collage With Horse exemplifies this approach: the horse image, clipped from a magazine, floats amid stains and scribbles, its original context lost to new meanings.
The work’s title itself reflects Rauschenberg’s playful relationship with language. “Formerly Titled” suggests a history now erased, while “Untitled” strips away pretension. This linguistic game mirrors his visual strategy—layering and obscuring to force active engagement. As documented in the Tate’s archives, his studio at the time was a “laboratory of experimentation,” where a discarded sock or a crumpled newspaper might become part of a masterwork. The horse, a symbol of power and motion, here feels frozen in time, its energy redirected through Rauschenberg’s interventions.
Rauschenberg’s 1957 collages didn’t just include the world—they demanded the viewer reconstruct it. The horse isn’t a subject; it’s a fragment waiting to be reimagined.
How Rauschenberg Built a Collage That Defies Time
Layering and Obscurance
The composition hinges on strategic obscurance. The horse image, centrally placed, is partially veiled by translucent fabric and smudged charcoal, creating a push-pull effect between revelation and concealment. Rauschenberg often worked by adding and subtracting—applying paint, then wiping it away, or covering a section only to tear it back. This piece’s surface bears the scars of that process: drips, fingerprints, and erasures that document its creation.
Material as Meaning
Every element carries symbolic weight. The fabric swatches, likely salvaged from clothing or upholstery, introduce domestic texture into the high-art context. The handwritten text—indecipherable in places—hints at private narratives, while the horse, a recurring motif in Rauschenberg’s work, ties the piece to his earlier Monogram (1955–59), where a stuffed angora goat became the centerpiece. The collage’s edges remain rough, rejecting the polished finish of traditional painting.
Own This Landmark of Neo-Dada Innovation
This 30×40 cm framed print captures Rauschenberg’s layered textures with archival inks on premium matte paper, encased in a solid wood frame. Free worldwide shipping ensures it arrives ready to hang—no hidden fees, no minimum order.
Add to CartWhere to Hang Rauschenberg’s Collage: A Room-by-Room Guide
This print’s dynamic contrast—dark horse against pale grounds, organic forms versus geometric tears—makes it a versatile statement piece. In a modern living room, pair it with a neutral sofa and a single bold accent color (think burnt orange or slate blue) pulled from the collage’s subtler tones. The 30×40 cm size suits a gallery wall but holds its own above a console table. For home offices, the work’s intellectual layeredness complements bookshelves or a minimalist desk; hang it at eye level to invite daily contemplation. Avoid overly busy walls—the collage’s complexity needs space to breathe. In a loft-style bedroom, contrast its raw texture with smooth bed linens and exposed brick for a downtown New York vibe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What frame and materials are included?
Each print ships in a solid wood frame with a crisp white mat board, UV-protective acrylic glazing, and a hanging kit. The archival paper and inks resist fading for decades.
Where do you ship, and how long does delivery take?
We offer free shipping to all countries, with no minimum purchase. Delivery typically takes 5–10 business days, depending on your location.
How long will the colors stay vibrant?
The print uses pigment-based inks rated for 100+ years under museum lighting conditions. Display it away from direct sunlight to maximize longevity.
What’s your return policy?
You may return your print within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. The frame must be in original condition; we’ll cover return shipping costs.
Sources & Further Reading
- Museum of Modern Art. "Robert Rauschenberg: Combines." moma.org
- Tate. "Neo-Dada and the Legacy of Collage." tate.org.uk
- Smithsonian American Art Museum. "Rauschenberg’s Materials and Methods." americanart.si.edu
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This framed print arrives ready to hang, with free worldwide shipping and a 30-day return guarantee. The solid wood frame and archival materials ensure your collage stays vibrant for decades.
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