Woman at the Mirror from Das Kunstblatt, IV annual 1920

Fernand Léger made this lithograph, Woman at the Mirror, around 1920. It’s all about bold contrasts: black and white, curves and hard lines. Léger’s using shapes to suggest a woman looking in a mirror. It’s almost like he’s broken down the scene into its simplest parts. There's something about the way he emphasizes the flatness of the printed image. He isn't trying to trick us into thinking we are seeing 3D forms. The thick black lines create a strong graphic impact. Look at the fan shape, half black, half white lines. It's so striking! Léger was interested in modern life and industry, and I think you can see that here. He is making the human form seem more machine-like. He was pals with Picabia and this feels like a nod to the sorts of graphic images that Picabia was also exploring at this time. Of course, with art there is no right answer. It's all about what it makes you feel!