The Bridge of the Tug boat 1920

Fernand Léger's painting presents us with a symphony of geometric shapes, resonating with the dynamism of early 20th-century industrial life. The composition pulses with circles, cylinders, and checkerboards, motifs echoing the machinery and urban landscapes of the era. Consider the circle, here represented as a target, a recurrent symbol in art history. It appears as halos in religious paintings, signs of enlightenment in Eastern mandalas, or even the cyclical nature of time. In Léger's work, its presence might evoke a sense of progress. The checkerboard, similarly, appears throughout time, often symbolizing order and duality. In ancient Egypt, we see similar patterns in tomb decorations, meant to represent life's balance. However, in Léger's hands, the symbol is repurposed. He is not only building a composition but also capturing the psychological effects of modernity. Léger engages us on a primal level, connecting our collective memories with the forward momentum of a changing world.