Grand parade on red background 1953

Fernand Léger's "Grand Parade on Red Background" is a vibrant tableau, a scene seemingly lifted from the circus, rendered with bold lines and striking colors. The figures, stylized and geometric, evoke a sense of timeless festivity. Here, the horse motif particularly fascinates me. Throughout art history, the horse appears as a symbol of power, nobility, and virility, from the equestrian statues of Roman emperors to the steeds of Renaissance princes. But Léger subverts these classical connotations. His horse, simplified and almost mechanical, is stripped of its aristocratic bearing. It’s not about individual prowess or dominion. Instead, it's been abstracted into a symbol of collective energy and communal celebration. This image reflects our enduring fascination with spectacle, and a deep-seated yearning for moments of collective joy, echoing through time and cultures. The parade embodies a powerful, shared, emotional experience. This motif resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings, reminding us of the cyclical nature of cultural symbols.