The Builders (outside color) 1955

Fernand Léger’s "The Builders (outside color)" is a masterclass in how simplicity can shout volumes, and you can see it in the Museum in Biot. Look at those outlines! They grab your attention immediately, don’t they? They’re like bold declarations, shaping forms from a mix of ochre, red, and green. The colors aren't blended to create an illusion of depth, but are laid down in flat planes, emphasizing the material reality of the medium. It’s all about the surface, the here and now. The use of black is amazing. It’s not just an outline; it’s a structural element that defines the relationship between shapes and suggests movement. You can almost hear the clank of metal and the shouts of the workers. Léger isn't just showing us a construction site. It’s as if he's building the image itself, brick by visual brick. I think of the work of someone like Elizabeth Murray, who also thought about the way the hard edge could be playful and invite multiple readings.