"Very quickly a painting is turned into a facsimile of itself when one becomes so familiar with with it that one recognizes it without looking at it"

This quote by Robert Rauschenberg talks to the power of familiarity and how it can form our perception of a painting. He recommends that when we become so knowledgeable about a painting that we can recognize it without looking at it, it is almost as if the painting has actually been developed into a facsimile of itself. This implies that familiarity can cause a lack of gratitude for the painting, as we no longer take the time to value the details and subtleties of the artwork. This is a tip to make the effort to value the appeal of a painting, even if we have actually seen it often times in the past. It is essential to put in the time to value the information and nuances of a painting, as it can help us to gain a much deeper understanding of the artwork and the artist's intentions.