Study for the Party Campaign 

Fernand Léger made this painting, Study for the Party Campaign, in France, at a time when art was deeply entwined with politics. This monochromatic painting, with its bold outlines and simplified forms, suggests the visual language of political posters. The figures, some in modern dress and others nude, evoke a utopian vision of society. Léger was a committed communist, and his art often celebrated the working class and the potential for a more egalitarian future. How might this image function in the context of a political campaign? The figures seem to be a mix of social classes, perhaps indicating a cross-class alliance? The inclusion of nudes, particularly a monumental female figure holding flowers, could represent the natural bounty that a communist society might bring. By researching the history of the French Communist Party, its key campaigns, and its use of imagery, we can better understand the visual and social context for this artwork. The meaning of this painting is inseparable from the political and social conditions in which it was created.