January 1973: 7 1973

Patrick Heron made this screenprint, titled "January 1973: 7," in England. Heron was interested in the idea of pure form, and how it could elicit aesthetic pleasure. We can analyze the cultural context of Heron’s work by asking, "What makes it modern?". Here, contrasting blocks of color – red and green – collide with distinctly shaped forms in blue, pink and yellow. The bright color and flat shapes are a far cry from the illusionistic traditions of Western painting. Heron was a champion of abstraction and saw the style as a way to create art that spoke to the modern age. Heron's work raises questions about the role of art in society. Does it exist to reflect or challenge our understanding of the world? Ultimately, the meaning we derive from a work of art is always filtered through our own social and institutional context. Historians consult exhibition reviews, artists' letters, and sales data to understand the cultural work that art performs.