Why can the meaning of the same image change when context changes?

Social, historical, and cultural signs are read differently

The governing concept is that artistic meaning is shaped not only by visible form but also by context. A symbol, gesture, colour, or object may carry different associations in different societies or historical periods. For example, clothing, religious signs, political references, or memorial images can be understood differently by viewers who possess different cultural knowledge. The image itself has not necessarily changed; the network of social, historical, and cultural signs surrounding it has changed. Therefore, option C is correct because it explains why interpretation changes. Option A incorrectly treats meaning as a physical loss of colour, option B is biologically irrelevant, and option D is an extreme claim that ignores the artwork’s stable visual form.

This is a Class 9 Art Education question. Chapter: Introduction to Art. Topic: Meaning of art.