Roses et compas 1925

Fernand Léger made 'Roses et compas' using oil on canvas. Léger’s paintings are a response to the changing landscape of Europe after World War I, a period marked by rapid industrialization and urbanization. At first glance, the combination of the roses and a compass seems unusual. However, Léger was interested in how these two seemingly incongruous objects could coexist in the modern world. The roses, traditionally symbols of beauty and nature, are rendered in a simplified, almost mechanical style. The compass, a tool of precision and technology, is given a softer, more organic form. Léger said, “I believe the object must be disassociated from its habitual surroundings in order to enter the picture with all its powers.” This reflects Léger’s belief that art should embrace both the natural and the mechanical, seeking harmony in a world increasingly shaped by industry. Léger doesn't maintain traditional representations of beauty but rather, develops an alternative narrative through the intersection of nature and machine. The painting is not just about the objects themselves, but about how we perceive and integrate them into our lives and into society.