Double page plate 1950

This double page plate by Fernand Léger uses bold shapes and a limited colour palette. It reminds me that art-making is really a process of reduction, taking the world and distilling it down to its essence. Look at how Léger uses flat, solid black to create these dynamic figures. They're almost like silhouettes, boldly asserting themselves against the lighter pink and yellow planes. The lines that crisscross the composition add a sense of depth, but it's a shallow kind of space, like a stage set. It's interesting how he balances abstraction and figuration. You can see bodies, but they're simplified and geometric. The way the flat planes of colour interact with the black shapes and lines creates an experience that is both chaotic and balanced. Léger’s work, with its hard edges and focus on machinery, has an affinity with Picabia, both artists finding ways to evoke the modern world. Both these artists show us that art is not about perfection, but about the ongoing dialogue between materials, ideas, and the artist's hand.