Artist: Robert Rauschenberg
Title: More Distant Visible Part of the Sea (from Suite of Nine Prints)
Medium: Screenprint in Colors on BFK Rives Paper
Size: 30.5" x 23"
Year: 1979
Edition: 46/100
Publisher: Multiples Inc, New York
Print: Styria Studio, New York
Inscription: Signed, dated and numbered to lower edge "Rauschenberg 46/100 79"
Documentation: Gallery Certificate of Authenticity
Robert Rauschenberg's "More Distant Visible Part of the Sea" (1979) is a screenprint in colors on BFK Rives paper, measuring 30.5 inches in height by 23 inches in width. This work is part of a limited edition of 100, with the present example numbered 46/100. It was printed by Styria Studio, New York, and published by Multiples, Inc., New York. The piece is signed, dated, and numbered in pencil along the lower edge: “Rauschenberg 46/100 79." A gallery certificate of authenticity accompanies the work.
This screenprint is part of Rauschenberg's 1979 Suite of Nine Prints, a series that reflects his ongoing exploration of layered imagery and the integration of photographic elements with printmaking techniques. The composition features a lineup of various types of scissors, rendered in a dark red hue. The repetition of these objects across the sheet creates a rhythmic pattern that engages the viewer's eye, inviting contemplation on the significance of the tools depicted. The use of red tones adds a sense of urgency and intensity to the piece, while the precise arrangement of the scissors suggests a methodical approach to composition.
Rauschenberg's incorporation of everyday objects into his artwork challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and utilitarian items. By elevating commonplace tools to the status of art, he prompts viewers to reconsider the value and meaning of the objects that populate daily life. This approach aligns with his broader artistic practice, which often involved the juxtaposition of disparate elements to create new contexts and interpretations.
"More Distant Visible Part of the Sea" exemplifies Rauschenberg's commitment to innovation in printmaking and his interest in the interplay between form, color, and subject matter. The work's structured composition and limited color palette demonstrate his ability to convey complex ideas through simplicity and precision. As part of the Suite of Nine Prints, this piece contributes to the series' overarching themes and showcases Rauschenberg's continued evolution as a leading figure in contemporary art.
The work is in the collections of several major institutions, including the Portland Art Museum and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). These acquisitions underscore the significance of "More Distant Visible Part of the Sea" within Rauschenberg's oeuvre and its enduring impact on the field of contemporary art.
About Robert Rauschenberg
Robert Rauschenberg (1925–2008) was a central figure in postwar American art whose career spanned painting, printmaking, sculpture, performance, and multimedia work. Born in Port Arthur, Texas, he studied at the Kansas City Art Institute before serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Following his military service, he continued his studies at the Art Students League in New York and at Black Mountain College in North Carolina, where he studied under Josef Albers and engaged with experimental approaches to art-making that would shape his career.
Rauschenberg first came to prominence in the 1950s with his “Combine" works, hybrid creations that integrated painting, sculpture, and found objects. These works challenged the conventions of Abstract Expressionism, blending figurative imagery with abstract and everyday materials. By incorporating newspapers, fabric, photographs, and three-dimensional objects, Rauschenberg blurred the boundaries between high and low art and emphasized the materiality of objects within the artistic frame.
During the 1960s, Rauschenberg expanded into printmaking, performance, and collaborative projects. He worked with Universal Limited Art Editions, producing lithographs, screenprints, and other prints that combined precise technical execution with experimentation in scale, color, and imagery. His collaborations with choreographer Merce Cunningham and composer John Cage exemplify his interdisciplinary approach, linking visual art to music, dance, and performance in immersive and experimental ways.
Rauschenberg's work is included in the collections of major institutions worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Modern in London, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. He received numerous awards and honors, including the National Medal of Arts, and his influence on contemporary art extends beyond formal innovations to his pioneering integration of diverse media and materials.
Through his experimentation with form, materials, and collaborative practice, Rauschenberg redefined the possibilities of postwar art in the United States. His work consistently examined the intersections of abstraction, representation, and everyday life, leaving a lasting impact on generations of artists and establishing him as one of the most influential figures in modern American art.
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