Constructeurs, échelle et roue 1950

Fernand Léger made "Constructeurs, échelle et roue" with oil on canvas. Look how Léger's painted these figures: they’re like solid blocks of color, fitting together like cogs in a machine. It's like he’s building up the painting, piece by piece, trying to build a visual structure as solid as the scaffolding he's depicting. I can imagine him thinking about how to make these figures feel both human and mechanical at the same time. The black outlines give everything a real sense of definition, while the touches of red, yellow, and blue pop against the neutrals, giving the whole thing a kind of graphic punch. I see Léger's love of machinery and modern life and how this painting fits into a long line of artists exploring the relationship between humans and technology. It's a painting that celebrates the process of building, both in the world and on the canvas. It makes me want to pick up a brush!