The artwork titled “The two sailors” was created by Fernand Leger in 1951. This work is classified under the Naïve Art movement, known as Primitivism, and falls within the genre painting category. The artwork’s dimensions are 76 by 52.5 centimeters. It is part of the collection at the Musee National Fernand Leger in Biot, France.
The artwork depicts two figures that appear to be sailors, characterized by their clothing and hats. The piece is executed with bold, simplified lines and a limited color palette, primarily focused on black contours against a neutral background, which is a characteristic approach of Leger’s later works. The composition shows the two figures amidst maritime elements, such as ropes and a drum-like object that could represent a part of a ship’s equipment. The sailors are portrayed in a straightforward, almost frontal manner, suggesting strength and steadiness. Their facial expressions are serene and composed, typical of Leger’s style, which often simplifies and abstracts the human figure to its essential forms. The artwork’s clean lines and unadorned surfaces lend a modern, graphic quality to the scene, reflecting the artist’s interest in the mechanical and the industrial.
