The artwork titled “Horse head on a yellow background” was created by artist Fernand Leger in 1953, and embodies the Purism art movement. Measuring 47 x 40 cm, this animal painting is housed at the Musee National Fernand Leger in Biot, France.
The artwork presents a stylized representation of a horse’s head, prominently positioned against a vibrantly yellow background. There is a distinct use of bold, black outlines that define the shapes within the composition, characteristic of Leger’s approach to form, which relates to the Purist movement’s preference for clarity and order. The painting exhibits a limited color palette, consisting primarily of yellow, black, and white tones, allowing for strong contrasts and an emphasis on the geometric forms.
Flat, unmodulated areas of color and the absence of gradient tones underscore the Purist ideal of reducing objects to their essential forms, stripping away intricate details in favor of simplicity. The horse’s head itself is composed of a series of curves and angles, reflecting Leger’s tendency to abstract organic shapes into a collection of interconnected forms. The checkerboard pattern beside the horse further reinforces the geometric aesthetic of the piece. Despite the abstraction, the horse is still recognizable, and there is a sense of liveliness conveyed through the creature’s expressive eye and the energetic lines that suggest its mane. Overall, the artwork is an exemplification of the principles of Purism and demonstrates Leger’s unique interpretation of the movement.
