The gas station (study for the city) 

Fernand Léger created this study for The City using gouache and ink on paper. The visible texture of the paper and fluid application of gouache give the work a provisional, experimental feel, appropriate for a study. Léger rejected traditional artistic materials and techniques in favor of those that reflected the modern industrial world. Here, the artist reduces the urban landscape to its essential forms: geometric shapes and bold colors, echoing the look of mass-produced objects. Léger's visible brushstrokes remind us of the labor involved in creating even this seemingly simple composition. By depicting the gas station as a cluster of industrial forms, Léger highlights the growing influence of consumerism and mass production. The vibrant colors and simplified shapes celebrate the energy and dynamism of modern life, yet also suggest the potential for the individual to be overwhelmed by the machine age. Considering Léger's careful attention to materials, making, and context is important in understanding the artwork's full meaning, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.