Skating Rink drawing of decoration 1921

Curator: This watercolor sketch, created in 1921 by Fernand Léger, is titled "Skating Rink Drawing of Decoration." It’s interesting how he combines elements of urban life with geometric abstraction. Editor: My first impression is that the loose washes lend it a feeling of motion, almost as if you're watching a blurred memory of a festive evening. The color palette is so restricted – muted blues, reds, and browns set against the off-white paper. Curator: Léger was deeply engaged with the modern city, viewing it as a site of dynamic social change and technological advancement. He saw art as integral to this progress. So the “Skating Rink” depicts this new form of leisure enjoyed by an emerging mass society. Editor: Visually, the figures are stylized—reduced to essential forms and repeated patterns. What catches my attention is the careful arrangement of abstract shapes floating above them, those arches and rectangles; how are we to read their presence? Curator: It reflects a trend of mural-sized temporary decorations for skating rinks to create visually stunning entertainment spaces during that period. Decorations had propaganda-esque elements, where industrial shapes mixed with consumer advertisements were intended to convey optimism. Editor: Right, I notice it in the bold geometry – Léger simplifies architecture and human figures into cylinders, cones, and other basic shapes, reminiscent of Cubism’s fracturing of form. Are there symbolic meanings attached to certain shapes in this image? Curator: Beyond simply dissecting objects, this aesthetic was aimed at expressing the vibrancy and newness that came from technological society. Think about those fragmented shapes that come together in the depiction of anonymous figures; this celebrates mass society. Editor: Indeed, look how color enhances depth perception—flat yet subtly contrasting. The execution feels informal, almost like rapid notetaking in watercolor form, and helps in giving the whole artwork an exciting but unstable aura. Curator: Exactly, Léger’s "Skating Rink" is not just a representation of an event but a visual manifesto, speaking to the promise and evolving identity of early 20th-century society. Editor: A perfect encapsulation of form following socio-political function – a valuable illustration to think with, beyond just aesthetics.