Stalingrad 

Fernand Léger’s ‘Stalingrad’ is a drawing with a stark palette, dominated by shades of black, brown and white. The eye is immediately drawn to the intricate web of geometric shapes in the upper portion, suggestive of industrial scaffolding and fractured architecture. This contrasts sharply with the lower portion, where human figures are discernible amidst the chaos. Léger’s work is deeply rooted in the avant-garde movements of the early 20th century, reflecting a preoccupation with industrialization, urbanization, and the fragmentation of modern life. The drawing uses abstraction to capture the chaotic and destructive nature of war. Léger employs a semiotic system of signs in which mechanized forms and human figures intersect, thus challenging traditional notions of heroism. The composition invites us to consider how such artistic endeavors destabilize established meanings. ‘Stalingrad’ exemplifies how form communicates not just aesthetics but also the socio-political anxieties of its time, inviting ongoing interpretation.