"During the '70s I was interested in words and meaning as a way of making art"

Sol LeWitt's quote, "During the '70s I had an interest in words and meaning as a way of making art", reflects an essential period in his artistic evolution where conceptual art started to control his thinking and practice. LeWitt, an essential figure in the Conceptual Art motion, harnessed the power of language to challenge traditional concepts of art, focusing not just on physical forms but on the concepts and procedures that underpin artistic creation.

The '70s were marked by a growing interest in minimalism and conceptualism across the art world. For LeWitt, words and significances became tools to check out art's immaterial elements. His work during this era often highlighted the idea over the aesthetic, suggesting that the principle or process causing a piece was simply as important, if not more so, than the final product. This was a radical departure from the emphasis on visual type and workmanship that had actually controlled art history.

Through using language, LeWitt intended to democratize art, distancing it from its elitist connotations and making it more accessible. By focusing on "directions" instead of finished works, he invited others to engage with and even perform his visions, blurring the line in between artist and audience. Words ended up being a bridge for understanding and shared production, permitting numerous interpretations and expressions of a single concept.

LeWitt's interest in words also resonated with more comprehensive cultural movements of the time, such as postmodern viewpoint, which questioned outright realities and highlighted the subjective nature of significance. By incorporating language into his art, LeWitt aligned with thinkers who saw significance as fluid and contingent.

In summary, LeWitt's exploration of words and meaning was not practically linguistic components however about redefining art itself. It showed an era's intellectual upheavals and opened new opportunities for imagination and analysis, establishing a legacy that continues to affect modern art practices.