Sacred Heart of Audincourt 1951

Fernand Léger made this stained glass window, Sacred Heart of Audincourt, using glass and lead. Look how Léger reduces everything to basic shapes, lines, and blocks of color. It's like he's saying, "Hey, the world is complicated, but art can be simple and direct." The materiality is so present here. The colors are bright and bold, not trying to trick you into thinking it is something else, and the lead lines are like a graphic framework holding everything together. My eye is drawn to the central figure. It's like some kind of mythological creature—part dragon, part machine. The thick black outlines give it weight, but the playful colors keep it from feeling too serious. It is like a comic book panel come to life. Léger was influenced by the Futurists, who wanted to capture the speed and energy of the modern world. But I also see a connection to Matisse's cut-outs, a similar joy in pure color and simplified forms. Ultimately, this piece is about looking at the world in a new way, embracing the unexpected, and finding beauty in simplicity.