Abstraction 1936

Fernand Léger painted this 'Abstraction' using oil on canvas, sometime around 1936. Léger's bold colours and hard-edged forms are so full of playful energy! You can feel the joy he found in the process. Looking closely, you see how the paint is applied in flat planes, almost like a sign painter's technique, but with an artist's eye for colour and composition. I love the way the shapes intersect and overlap, creating depth and movement. That yellow 'beam' for instance, slicing through the centre, it's like a burst of sunshine, pulling you right into the heart of the painting. Notice the dark outlines too, they give the forms weight and definition, making them pop against the background. Léger was definitely looking at the machine age for inspiration, not unlike Picabia, who also borrowed from the language of industry and design. But there's something uniquely Léger about this work, a sense of optimism and faith in the power of art to transform the world. It's a total celebration of form and colour.