In the '50s Morris Louis and I were not known, David Smith and Helen Frankenthaler were not much known.
Usually I throw away what I don't get right the first time.
Pollock was well known, certainly, but for all the wrong reasons. He was known as much for being wild and unconventional in his working methods as for being a great artist.
Context begins with other artists - seniors and mentors.
I think of painting without subject matter as music without words.
For me context is the key - from that comes the understanding of everything.