L’étoile blanche 

Fernand Léger created "L’étoile blanche" using gouache and ink on paper. This work presents a composition that pulsates with vibrant energy, achieved through a dynamic interplay of colours and forms. Léger employs primary colours—bold blues, yellows, and reds—alongside greens and blacks. These colours are applied in flat, distinct areas, creating a striking contrast that emphasizes the artwork’s constructed nature. Note how the lines, often thick and black, define shapes. This technique is crucial to Léger’s visual language. It compartmentalizes the pictorial space, creating a sense of order within the apparent chaos. The composition is spatially ambiguous. The elements float and overlap, challenging traditional notions of depth. Léger’s work destabilizes the conventional understanding of still life. It moves beyond mere representation to explore how forms and colours can independently create meaning. This piece encourages us to see how the visual structure itself can be a form of communication. It exemplifies how abstraction engages with new modes of perception.