The Port of Trouville 1951

Fernand Léger made The Port of Trouville, and it's a masterclass in how simple forms can create a vibrant, bustling scene. The way Léger uses flat planes of color, outlined in bold black, really grabs your attention. It’s like he's built this world out of sturdy, geometric blocks. The texture here isn't about blending or softening; it's about the stark contrast between one color and the next, one shape and another. Look at the way he renders the rigging of the ships – it’s almost like a blueprint, but one that's bursting with energy. The colors, primary and punchy, give the whole piece a kind of optimistic, industrial vibe. Léger’s work always reminds me of Stuart Davis, another artist who loved to find the abstract in the everyday. Both artists find a solid, joyful kind of abstraction within ordinary scenes. Léger doesn't give us all the answers; instead, he invites us to complete the picture, to bring our own experiences to the port of Trouville.