Robert Rauschenberg (American, 1925-2008), Earth Day, April 22, 1970. Published by the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Offset lithograph on glossy stock. A large but limited edition of 10,000. The artist's signature and date printed in the plate at lower center. One of the forefathers of American Pop Art, Robert Rauschenberg created the first Earth Day poster to benefit the American Environment Foundation in Washington, DC. It was published by Castelli Graphics, New York. Featuring the threatened bald eagle as the dominant image of the composition, Rauschenberg suggested that the US was at the forefront of this global problem. In order to convey environmental decay, the artist swathed earth tones over America's national bird - and surrounded it with black and white images of contaminated waters, polluted cities, littered junkyards, natural landscapes blighted by deforestation and highways, as well as another beloved endangered animal, the gorilla. Size: 33.625" L x 22.25" W (85.4 cm x 56.5 cm)

In addition to being one of the most important American forefathers of Pop Art, Robert Rauschenberg was an environmental activist who was concerned about the welfare of the earth throughout his lifetime. This poster, which he designed for the inaugural Earth Day, was one of numerous posters that Rauschenberg created to raise funds for the many social causes he was passionate about.

The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970 was born in response to a catastrophic oil spill off the coast of Southern California in 1969. Designed to raise public awareness to global environmental threats, Earth Day began as a grass-roots movement, with approximately 20 million American participants. Today, Earth Day is recognized as the dawn of the environmental movement and it is observed in approximately 200 countries across the globe.

Provenance: Ex-Denenberg Fine Arts, Los Angeles, California, USA

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#136686

Minor toning to verso. Tiny folds to corners an slight crease marks here and there. Still, overall the piece is in excellent shape.