Un Tournesol sur fond polychrome 1954

Fernand Léger created this boldly coloured painting, "Un Tournesol sur fond polychrome," which translates to "A Sunflower on a Polychrome Background," employing oil on canvas. The painting strikes you with its structured interplay of geometric shapes, vibrant colours, and the stark black outlines that define each form. Léger presents a sunflower that bends towards us, set against a flat, segmented background, which oscillates between abstraction and representation. This use of contrasting colours creates a visual rhythm that captures the dynamism of modern life. Léger was deeply influenced by modernism and machine aesthetics, and sought to represent the energy of the industrial age. The sunflower, though a natural form, is rendered through a mechanical lens, mirroring Léger's belief that art should reflect the industrialized world. The painting's composition, therefore, isn't just about depicting a flower; it's a statement about how art can embrace modernity.