The rise of mass media during the 1940’s - 1960’s contributed greatly to the growing presence of popular imagery in society. Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol are two artist who questioned the value of art during this era. They did so primarily by taking an experimental approach to their works, such as using the silkscreen, as well as demonstrated a unique view on artistic authorship. Both Rauschenberg and Warhol shifted from a conceptual outlook and pushed the boundaries on what was considered to be socially acceptable art.

Robert Rauschenberg pushed the traditionally established parameters of art due to the experimental approach that he took. This in turn created opportunities as well as influenced the young artists who will come to …show more content…
Due to this, the increasing importance of the image and reproduction became clear to Rauschenberg, and he then moved into his silkscreen period in order to adapt. This assisted in the acceptance of the notion that a work of art can be created out of anything, showing for any period of time and for any purpose. These decisions inspired the artists who came next. Andy Warhol said that the use of objects in Rauschenberg’s “combines” helped to make what Warhol did with coke bottles, soup cans and his portraits of Marilyn Monroe …show more content…
This also helped to create a better relationship between his working method and the content of his works of art. This silkscreening technique that he employed proved to be instrumental to his artistic process and success. This was particularly useful to him because he was able to easily and quickly replicate his images, which helped him to push uphold the Modernist ideas of technological experimentation and viewer aesthetic engagement. Andy Warhol demonstrated the Modernist value of the machine age through his decision to use repetition within his works as well as allowing other people to do his work for him. In an interview, Warhol expressed his desire to be like a machine, which demonstrated that the Modernist value of Individualism was of no importance to him. This mechanistic view attacked what was traditionally known as the role of the artist, mainly due to the depersonalized process that Warhol employed. Warhol was able to change the way people view artwork by altering the way in which his work was made. He reproduces things rather than represent them, as well, he does not take authorship for his work. Warhol’s use of famous people and everyday objects as the subject of some of his works of art, was crucial to making them recognizable to the everyday man, giving them a universality. This was important