Robert Rauschenberg

PaceWildenstein, New York
Acquired by the present owner from the above in December 1997

This work appears in excellent condition. There is evidence of light wear around the edges. Otherwise, there are no condition problems with this work. Framed.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

According to Bernice Rose, "The Anagrams are the poetic ciphers of his self's self-discovery as it travels among the material of the world and inserts itself into the chaotic, arbitrary world of nature." (Exh. Cat., New York, Pace Wildenstein, Anagrams, 1996, p. 6).  Foot Note [Anagram (A Pun)] is a visual apotheosis of this very definition as each quotidian screened image serves multiple functions within Rauschenberg's aesthetic dialect in order to bridge the gap between art and life.

Spatially ambiguous but poignantly legible, Foot Note [Anagram (A Pun)] captures and disseminates the dichotomy of urbanity. Its well-heeled fashionista citizens and beloved public parks are in flux with the privation which occupies the length of the lower register. Uniting the essence of city life while using the impersonal lens of a photographic process, the result is an immediacy, intimacy and world view that is distinctly and authoratatively Rauschenberg.