Figures 1913

Henri Le Fauconnier made this painting, Figures, using dynamic color and fragmented forms, somewhere around the early twentieth century. Look at how the brown and orange shards of color are pieced together, defining the figures, but also blurring the lines between them and their environment. I can imagine him, brush in hand, feeling his way through the canvas, almost like a sculptor, building up these faceted shapes, turning people into landscapes and vice versa. The blue in the lower left corner anchors the composition, while the guitar on the right adds a touch of bohemian flair. What could he have been thinking about as he built up these semi-human shapes? Maybe it's a new way of seeing, breaking down traditional forms, inviting us to piece together the puzzle. It reminds me of the Cubists, who were also smashing conventions and exploring multiple perspectives. That conversation between artists, across time and place, is ongoing. It is a form of embodied expression and the ambiguity and uncertainty of painting allows for multiple interpretations, which is a wonderful thing.