What and who influenced Robert Rauschenberg in his printmaking?

Robert Rauschenberg was an American artist and printmaker who was active during the 1950s and 1960s. He was greatly influenced by the work of other artists and movements of the time, which had a significant impact on his printmaking.  

  One of the major influences on Rauschenberg’s printmaking was the art of the Surrealists, particularly the work of Salvador Dalí and Max Ernst. Rauschenberg was drawn to the Surrealists’ use of collage and their ability to combine seemingly disparate images and objects in unexpected ways. This influence is evident in his early printmaking, where he incorporated found objects into his compositions and used techniques such as photolithography to create surreal images.  

  Another major influence on Rauschenberg’s printmaking was the art of the Abstract Expressionists, particularly the work of Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning. Rauschenberg was drawn to the gestural brushstrokes and the emphasis on process and material in the work of the Abstract Expressionists. This influence is evident in his later printmaking, where he began to use techniques such as screen printing and transfer drawing to create abstract compositions.  

  Rauschenberg was also heavily influenced by the work of his fellow artists and peers such as Jasper Johns, Cy Twombly and Robert Motherwell. He was drawn to their use of everyday materials and their incorporation of found objects into their work. He also shared a studio with Johns and worked closely with him, and their collaboration was influential in the development of their mutual artistic styles.  

  Rauschenberg’s interest in technology, science and media also played a role in his printmaking. He was interested in the potential of new printing technologies, such as silkscreen, to create new forms of artistic expression. This influence is evident in his use of silkscreen in his series of “ROCI” prints, which were produced in the 1980s.