The Wedding 1911

Fernand Léger made this oil on canvas, called 'The Wedding' at a time of great social change in France. Through its fractured forms, this painting echoes the rise of Cubism. But rather than simply breaking down form for its own sake, Léger uses the style to reflect the dynamism of modern life. Made in the years following the First World War, the painting reflects a world rebuilding itself, and where traditional structures and social norms were being challenged. The wedding ceremony, a cornerstone of social order, is here presented as a jumble of geometric shapes. Léger was interested in the aesthetics of the machine age and his painting embodies this. To properly understand this artwork, consider the broader context of early 20th-century Europe. What were the key political movements and social trends of the period? How did artists respond to the changing world around them? Art history is not just about the artwork itself, but also about the world in which it was created.