Where Is Contrast of Forms? Museum Location

Q: Where is Léger's Contrast of Forms?

This version is at MoMA in New York, part of the Philip L. Goodwin Collection. Léger painted about 50 works in this series.

Q: What is the Contrast of Forms series about?

Léger explored the limits between abstraction and representation. He sought maximum contrast in line, form, and color, developing his own version of Cubism.

Q: Why was Léger's style called Tubism?

Critic Louis Vauxcelles noted Léger's preference for cylindrical, tube-like forms. Unlike Picasso's flat Cubism, Léger retained strong three-dimensional volumes.

Fernand Léger completed this Contrast of Forms in 1913, one of about 50 works in a series exploring the boundaries between abstraction and representation. Cylindrical forms, intersecting solids and voids, and patches of primary color create what critic Louis Vauxcelles dubbed "Tubism." The shapes seem to burst with volume while floating on a flat surface.

Léger sought the greatest possible "contrast" in line, form, and color. Unlike Picasso and Braque, who flattened space in their Cubism, Léger retained three-dimensional volume. The red, blue, and yellow accents were added after the drawing, without smooth blending.

This series marked the first non-representational works to emerge from Cubism. The work at MoMA in New York, part of the Philip L. Goodwin Collection, measuring 100.3 x 81.1 cm.

This version is at MoMA in New York, part of the Philip L. Goodwin Collection. Léger painted about 50 works in this series.

Léger explored the limits between abstraction and representation. He sought maximum contrast in line, form, and color, developing his own version of Cubism.

Critic Louis Vauxcelles noted Léger's preference for cylindrical, tube-like forms. Unlike Picasso's flat Cubism, Léger retained strong three-dimensional volumes.

He painted this series between 1912 and 1914. The works were among the first non-representational paintings to emerge from the Cubist movement.

Contrast of Forms

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Where to See It

The Artist

More by Fernand Léger

Portrait of Henry Viel, a friend of painter Fernand Leger

Nudes in the Forest

Contrasts of Forms

Portrait of Andre Mare

Also at Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

Broadway Boogie Woogie

Bird in Space

Simultaneous Contrasts: Sun and Moon

Grapes

Related Cubism Works

Guernica

Fillette à la corbeille fleurie

Portrait of Picasso

Simultaneous Windows on the City

Les Femmes d'Alger (Version O)

Eiffel Tower

Violin and Checkerboard

Nude, Green Leaves and Bust

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