The star 1936

Fernand Léger made this oil painting on canvas called ‘The Star’ and it now lives in Biot, France. Léger’s got these bold, flat colors outlined in black, which, to me, feels like he's mapping out a new kind of visual space. Look at the green area, with its smooth, uninterrupted surface. It's a color block, sure, but it's also got this depth, like a shadow or void. The edges are sharply defined, but the space inside feels infinite. Now, check out that white circle with the black blobs – the so-called star of the show. It kind of looks like a face, right? This organic shape against the more geometric forms creates this tension, making you question what's real and what's not. Léger isn't afraid to mix it up, and neither should we. Think of Matisse, with his cut-outs, also playing with color and shape, but Léger brings this industrial vibe that’s all his own. Art’s just one big conversation, isn’t it?