The artwork titled “Totem,” created by the renowned artist Le Corbusier in 1950, belongs to the Cubism art movement and falls under the sculpture genre.
The sculpture is a wooden abstraction, characterized by interlocking geometric forms and a textured surface that conveys a sense of depth and complexity. Its design, reminiscent of a totem, exhibits both anthropomorphic and mechanical elements, reflecting the Cubist fascination with breaking down objects into their component parts and reconstructing them in new, imaginative ways. A blend of curved and angular shapes, the sculpture’s intricate details and layered composition invite a contemplative exploration of its forms and the relationships between them. The piece stands firmly on a broad base, providing a stable foundation for the intricate structure above. The overall aesthetic is one of raw, tactile beauty, embodying the innovative spirit of the mid-20th century avant-garde.