Diagonal Lines 1951

Ellsworth Kelly created this stark image, titled Diagonal Lines, sometime during his career as an abstract expressionist. The image is striking in its simplicity: two lines, two colors, and a bare minimum of visual incident. But its reduction raises interesting questions about the social function of art. Kelly was working in the mid-twentieth century, and there was a great deal of discussion about what constituted ‘good’ or ‘important’ art. Institutions such as museums and galleries were seen as the gatekeepers of culture. Kelly was interested in pushing the boundaries of what could be considered art. His stark shapes and planes can be understood as a challenge to the conventions of the time. It's worth thinking about how his work changed the art world. Researching the critical response to Kelly's work at the time helps us to understand how tastes have changed.