The tree in the scale 1944

Fernand Léger made this painting with oil on canvas, and what strikes me is how he coaxes such solidity from the paint. It’s like everything is asserting its right to be here. The way Léger uses color and line to create form is pretty unique. Take the plant in the center, it’s got this almost mechanical feel, but also feels organic. There is a real tension between those two ideas. The texture isn’t trying to trick you into thinking it’s real, it’s about the idea of a plant, and the geometric forms. I find myself drawn to the juxtaposition of the smooth surfaces against the rough. It reminds me a little bit of Picabia, who was also playing with machine-like forms around this time. They’re not quite the same, but there's a shared sense of questioning representation. Ultimately, art is about ambiguity, isn't it? There are many ways of seeing.