Drawing of ground plan for the office of Jean Zay 1937

Fernand Léger made this drawing of a ground plan for Jean Zay’s office using watercolor or gouache, and what strikes me is its simplicity. The palette is reduced, and the process seems uncomplicated, focused more on the interplay between forms. The texture is smooth, suggesting a thin application of paint, and the interplay between the red-brown and white creates a dynamic visual rhythm. The forms are geometric yet organic, circles and squares alternating in a grid-like pattern. Look at the edges of the red-brown shapes - they are soft and slightly blurred, adding a human touch to the composition. It feels like a study in how basic shapes can create a sense of depth and movement. It reminds me a little of Hilma af Klint's work, in the sense that it is very forward-thinking and conceptual.