Les Objets à Réaction Poetique 1931 - 1936

Curator: This is one of Fernand Léger's "Les Objets à Réaction Poétique." It's a gelatin silver print currently held in the Tate Collections. Its dimensions are quite intimate, each image being only 54 x 54 mm. Editor: It's such a curious image. The dark mass held up to the sky is eerie and compelling. I wonder what it is made of? Curator: Léger was fascinated by the interplay of organic and manufactured forms. He often elevated everyday objects, exploring their intrinsic qualities and how they transform in the photographic process. He embraced mass production while valuing handcraft. Editor: This image feels inherently about class; the hands holding the object seem almost anonymous, pointing to labor. The organic matter inside could be interpreted as the earth, the source of all materials and production. Curator: Perhaps. Looking at the photograph's materiality, the gelatin silver print process allows for incredible tonal range, highlighting the textures of the object and the fragility of the moment captured. Editor: It really makes you consider the power structures that shape how we perceive and interact with the environment. Curator: Ultimately, Léger prompts us to question the value we place on the objects that surround us. Editor: Yes, and to whom those objects really belong.