Abstraction 1943

Editor: Here we have Fernand Léger's "Abstraction," created in 1943 using mixed media. It’s quite vibrant! What really grabs me is the contrast between the bold colors and these very graphic black lines. What do you see in this piece? Curator: As a materialist, I’m drawn to consider the social and economic context in which Léger made this work, and how his material choices reflect this. During wartime, resources were scarce. What are these materials? Are they scraps? Readily available and cheap? Considering the cost of art supplies during that era shapes our understanding. Editor: That's interesting; I hadn't considered that limitation. I was more focused on the geometric forms themselves. Does the shift to simpler materials change how we perceive his usual Cubist style? Curator: Absolutely. Consider how industrialization influenced Léger. Typically he was concerned with machines and modern life. Perhaps, by using these specific, readily available materials, he's commenting on wartime industry and resource management, questioning the mass-produced against what can be cobbled together. What does "Abstraction" even mean, in a world rebuilding? Editor: So, the ‘everydayness’ of the materials elevates it, connecting the elite world of art to the broader struggle for resources and labor happening then? Curator: Precisely! It moves beyond pure aesthetics. How does this change how we consume and value this piece? Do we see resourcefulness? Waste? Consumption? The humbleness or otherwise of materials really opens up interpretation. Editor: That definitely gives me a lot to think about! Seeing it as more than just a study of form but rather as a reflection on the state of industry and the economy changes my understanding of its value. Curator: And that reframing invites a crucial conversation on materiality!