Each of the 7 exhibiting artists takes a candid, probing approach to their chosen medium, unpacking its art historical framework, examining
precedent artistic strategies, and subverting viewer expectations.
Far from ignoring the lessons of Duchamp, such a treatment of paint was derived from an understanding of his predecessor's
artistic strategies, to which Rauschenberg had his first in - depth exposure in the spring of 1953 at Sidney Janis's exhibition, Dada 1916 — 1923.8 Throughout that year, he explored various
precedents set by the older artist.