The album "Circus" 1950

Fernand Léger made this lithograph called "Circus" with black ink on white paper. Just imagine the bold, graphic marks that make up these quirky circus characters, like a troupe of abstract clowns. I imagine Léger, armed with his lithographic crayon, conjuring these characters into being. Maybe he was thinking about the energy of the circus, the raw dynamism, and the way it reflects life's ups and downs. I picture him drawing directly onto the stone, the marks immediate and confident, trying to catch a glimpse of popular entertainment. The strong lines and shapes have so much expression. Look at the faces—they're geometric, but they have so much personality! I love how the figures are built with just the essentials. It reminds me of other artists who were also grabbing at everyday life—like the Dadaists and their playful irreverence, or the Constructivists with their faith in geometry. It's all one big, inspiring conversation, and we're all invited to join in and add our own strokes to the story.