Ellsworth Kelly's "Tablet" series, covering the years 1949–1973, represents a crucial period in Kelly's exploration of abstract forms and his meticulous working process. This series was featured in an exhibition curated by Yve-Alain Bois at The Drawing Center in New York, where Kelly himself selected 188 of his working drawings to be displayed. The exhibition offered a rare glimpse into the artist's methodical approach to creating art during a highly productive phase of his career. These works encompass a range of drawings and collages that Kelly used as foundational elements for his larger projects, illustrating his iterative process of abstraction​ (The Drawing Center)​.

The "Tablet" series underscores Kelly's enduring interest in the interplay between shapes, colors, and spatial relationships, as well as his inclination toward minimalism and hard-edge painting. Despite Kelly's association with these movements, his work in the "Tablet" series and beyond demonstrates a unique approach that predates the formal emergence of Minimalism. Kelly's work is characterized by its precise and sharply defined abstract contours, highlighting his innovative use of color and form to redefine the boundaries of abstract art​ (Guggenheim Tour)​.