Les Constructeurs 1950

Fernand Léger made this painting, Les Constructeurs, using oil on canvas with black outlines and bold blocks of yellow, red, and blue. I imagine him building this scene, these figures, bit by bit, layering the colours one after another. These men are constructing something new together. Look at the guy right in the middle, he's like, “Hey, we’re building a future here!” The paint is laid down so flat, everything is shapes and lines. It's like Léger is saying, “Let's break it all down, see what's what, and put it back together, better.” You get a sense of the artist's wider interest in celebrating everyday life and the dignity of labor. It reminds me a little of those WPA murals from the 30s. We’re all just builders, you know? Making our own little worlds, one painting, one conversation, one brick at a time.