The painting Signal painted by the American artist Philip Taaffe in 1986, in the same style as his other paintings, through the exploration of historical ornament and decoration as well its reference to Op-art creates an illusionistic effect. Taaffe’s painting Signal comprises red, green, yellow and blue forms on a black ground. Departing from monochrome background, Taaffe creates paintings with rhythmic, abstract and floral motifs, incorporating geometrical forms in successive layers. Inspired by artists like Barnett Newman, Bridget Riley, and Hans Arp, Phillip Taaffe incorporates also elements influenced by his travels referencing also visuals from Roman mosaics, Islamic art, Byzantine altarpieces and other sources. The painting is a reinterpretation of the work Untitled (April 15) by the American artist Paul Feeley, painted in 1968.

Since the early 1980s, his artistic practice has evolved, using different processes and materials like collage, linocut, woodblock, rubber stamp, silkscreen, marbling and decalcomania incorporating elements inspired by different cultures. Through this idea of crossing cultures, Taaffe engages critically and in a reflective way with abstraction. His works have been displayed in numerous museum exhibitions, including the Carnegie International, two Sydney Biennials, and three Whitney Biennials. Today they are part of numerous public collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Philadelphia Museum of Art; the Whitney Museum of American Art; and the Reina Sofia, Madrid.