Robert Rauschenberg was an influential American artist known for pioneering combine paintings in the 1950s, which incorporated everyday objects with painting. Some key works include Canyon (1959) featuring a painted eagle, and Monogram (1955-1958) with a stuffed goat and tire. Rauschenberg sought to break down boundaries between art forms and challenge definitions of art. He used found objects and screenprinting to create dense, layered works that commented on modern consumer culture and the relationship between art and life.