Still life 1914

Fernand Léger made this cubist still life painting using oil on canvas. What strikes me here is how Léger fearlessly breaks down familiar objects into geometric forms. The brushstrokes feel almost like raw energy, especially the thick lines that define the edges of the objects. These aren't smooth, blended strokes; they're bold, deliberate marks. It feels like he's wrestling with the canvas, trying to capture the essence of each object. Look at the way he renders the books with simple green and white stripes. The colors are vivid, but they don't aim for realism. There's a playfulness in how he distorts and simplifies the forms. He's not trying to trick us into thinking we're seeing a real object, but something else, something new. It puts me in mind of Braque and Picasso. But Léger does his own thing, bringing a new sense of energy and movement to this conversation around cubism.