Répartition régulière de carrés 1971

François Morellet made this painting, Répartition régulière de carrés, using a rigid system of geometric forms. The image creates meaning through its visual codes. The grid, a common motif in 20th-century art, references mathematical precision and rational order. Made in France, Morellet’s work reflects a broader cultural interest in systems and structures after the Second World War, especially in the 60's. It emerged alongside movements such as Minimalism, which challenged traditional notions of artistic expression, and was influenced by institutions. Morellet’s reliance on pre-determined rules questions the artist’s subjective role and was a critique of the art world's emphasis on individual genius. The historian, in this case, researches the artist’s statements, the critical reception of his work, and the wider intellectual context to understand its full significance. The meaning of this image depends on its social and institutional context.