[speedplane]

A certain level of context helps, but it isn't necessary to have a complete picture. His painting, Flag, doesn't need much, but it's helpful to know about the USA, what the flag means, nationalism, etc. It further helps to know that he made it after serving in WWII. It follows that an alien seeing it for the first time would probably get less from it than someone coming at it with more context.

But no, you don't need to understand "his life and/or complete body of work" to enjoy it.