The chair (membership to the lamp, the lamp still life) 1955

Fernand Léger made "The chair (membership to the lamp, the lamp still life)" with printmaking techniques, a really bold way of exploring everyday objects. Look at how the colours are laid down in simple blocks, red, yellow, black, like shapes cut from paper. There's something wonderfully forthright about the lines, they don’t mess around with shading or depth. It's like Léger's saying, "Here's the form, take it or leave it”. But it is playful too, see how the legs of the chair turn into wiggly worms that are reminiscent of Joan Miro? That kind of humor is hard to pull off. Léger's work often puts a focus on industrial or mechanical subjects, but I think in the later part of his career, there’s a softening, a kind of humanising touch to the shapes. This makes me think of other printmakers, like Elizabeth Murray, who use printmaking to explore similar themes, she also used a similar colour palette. Art is like a visual conversation across time, isn't it? Each artist chipping in with their own take.