Taper 1964

Editor: This is "Taper" by Bernard Cohen. I'm really drawn to the layering of patterns, but I wonder about its place within art history. How does the social and political climate influence your reading of this piece? Curator: Well, considering Cohen's work, we might look at post-war abstraction and its relationship to ideas of progress and the sublime. Do you see any elements that might be a response to institutional expectations or societal norms of the time? Editor: I guess the repetitive patterns could be a reflection of industrialization and mass production. Curator: Precisely. And how do you think the choice of colors plays into its public reception? Editor: The bright colors create a sense of optimism. I now understand how it's more than just a pretty picture. Curator: Exactly, seeing it as a product of its time deepens our understanding.