La joconde aux clés 1930

Fernand Léger assembled La Joconde aux clés from a palette of bright yellows, blues, reds and greys. I love how Léger's paintings have this push-pull of geometric abstraction and recognisable forms, the keys, the Mona Lisa, all in a playful dance! The way he layers the shapes and objects makes me wonder what it was like for Léger in the studio – the way the composition might have shifted and changed as he worked. The paint looks like it's been applied thinly, almost like a wash in some areas, letting the canvas breathe. It reminds me of other artists who were riffing on famous paintings, like Duchamp's L.H.O.O.Q. I imagine them having a conversation across time, each putting their spin on the classics. It suggests that painting is not just about making an image, but about thinking, feeling, and questioning the world around us.