Pylons (study for The City) 

Fernand Léger made this study for The City with gouache and ink. Here we see what, at first glance, seems a simple contrast between nature and industry, cows in a field set against a backdrop of pylons. But this image presents a modern and somewhat unsettling synthesis of the two. Made in France, Léger's work reflects the country's social and economic transformation in the early 20th century. Léger was interested in how this urban modernity could coexist with rural life, the pylons serving as bold assertions of technological advancement, yet not quite overshadowing the pastoral scene below. Léger served in World War I and was deeply affected by the experience. He saw modern technology as a means of both destruction and progress, and his art often grapples with this ambivalence. As historians, we turn to sources from Léger's time: government policies, economic reports, and even personal letters. These offer clues to Léger’s mindset and the broader social context that shaped his art. Ultimately, this sketch offers a complex and nuanced vision of a society on the cusp of change, inviting us to reflect on the evolving relationship between humanity, technology, and the natural world.