Two Figures, naked on red bottom 1923

Fernand Léger made these two figures, naked on a red bottom, at an undetermined time, and probably with oil on canvas. Look at how he builds up these forms with simple gradations of black and white, like he’s sketching in three dimensions. It’s pure construction! The texture is smooth, almost machine-like, which is fascinating. Léger was really interested in industry and machinery, and you can feel that here. It’s like the figures are made of solid metal, but they're still soft and rounded, embracing. Focus on their hands for a moment. The fingers are like stylized sausages, but they convey a sense of tenderness that’s almost absurd, yet totally sincere. Léger’s work always makes me think of someone like Phillip Guston, who also played with simplified forms and a limited palette. There's this shared interest in reducing figures to their most basic shapes. Ultimately, this is about exploring how we see and feel through abstraction, leaving space for our own experiences and interpretations.