The Railway Crossing
Fernand Léger
Informed and inspired by the fledgling Cubism of Picasso and Braque, Léger imbued the movement with a joyousness expressed in curvature and color. He saw machines and industrialisation as subjects just as important as people in his work, and the optimism he felt for the modern age is clear in every brushstroke. This was a study for a larger piece named ‘The Level Crossing’, and the scaffolding, tubular pipes, and signposts depicted take on an almost photo-pop art quality as the industrial workings of a train yard are transformed into a wonderland of bright shapes and shifting perspectives. Trains long represented the beginning of a new age, and in this study for what Léger would consider a portrait of sorts, he elevates the elder statesman of modernity into a beacon of hope for the future, and a triumph of the contemporary age.
Sunday 14th June
The Moon moves through Taurus, an earthly sign, drawing our attention towards the roots, the soil, and the quiet stability of the garden. In biodynamics, Taurus is connected with the root forces of the plant, making this a favourable time for tending crops such as carrots, beetroot, onions, parsnips and potatoes. The morning offers a good opportunity for gentle work with the earth: hoeing around root crops, preparing beds, lifting weeds, or simply noticing the condition of the soil. Taurus asks us to slow down and become more grounded in our work. However, the Moon also reaches perigee today, when it comes closest to the Earth. In the biodynamic calendar, this can bring a more unsettled influence, making the afternoon unfavourable for gardening.There is wisdom in knowing when not to act. Sometimes our task is simply to observe, to wait, and to trust the hidden life of the earth as it continues its quiet work beneath our feet.
32 Continuing - The I Ching
Continuing is prosperity...
Why I Write (1976)
Film
Film
Film
Iggy Pop
Hannah Peel
Iggy Pop
