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.

Monday 15th June

We have arrived at New Moon, a moment of darkness, stillness and renewal within the lunar cycle. At the same time, the Moon shifts in its sidereal rhythm from Taurus into Gemini, moving us from the deep, earthly realm of the roots into the lighter, airy realm of the flowers. In biodynamics, Gemini is connected with air, light and the flowering parts of the plant. This can be a good time to turn our attention towards flowers, herbs, pollinator plants, and those areas of the garden that bring colour, fragrance and movement. The New Moon invites a quieter kind of attention. It is a pause before the next cycle begins, a moment to listen, observe, and sense what is waiting to emerge. As the Moon moves from Taurus to Gemini, we are reminded that life continually rises from darkness into light. Even in the stillness of the New Moon, something new is already preparing to unfold.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.