Tablet #153 

Ellsworth Kelly, an American artist, made ‘Tablet #153’ using collage, a technique with a rich social history. Kelly was associated with the post-war abstract art movements of the 20th century. Yet he sets himself apart through his unique method of pre-painting individual pieces before assembling them into the final artwork. This process has implications for how we understand originality. In particular, it suggests that the essence of art lies not just in the individual brushstroke, but in the conceptual act of combining elements. Are we focusing too much on the singular genius of the artist, at the expense of those whose labor they rely on? We could explore the cultural history of collage itself, from its early uses in radical political movements to its adoption by advertising and design. Such research might include archival materials and studies of design history, to offer fresh perspectives on Kelly’s practice.