Peinture murale, 35 rue de Sèvres à Paris 1948

This mural was painted by Le Corbusier at 35 rue de Sèvres in Paris. Look at how the composition plays between flat color planes and these meandering black lines. It makes me think about a stage set, and of forms pushing forward and receding at the same time. You can sense Corbusier trying to balance structure and spontaneity. The shapes feel architectural, yet the overall effect is lively and improvisational. I wonder if he thought about how the mural might interact with the building’s inhabitants and environment. The textures in the red shape are luscious, and the lines, applied with what looks like a housepainter's brush, have real personality. I love the conversation between abstraction and representation here, and between rigor and play. It’s as if he’s winking at us, suggesting that art and life are not so different after all.