“The Staircase,” crafted by Fernand Léger in 1913, is an exemplary piece from the Tubism movement, positioned within the cityscape genre. This artwork intricately captures the essence of urban life through an abstract lens, characteristic of the avant-garde period it emerged from.
The artwork employs a distinct geometric abstraction, comprising cylindrical forms and vibrant colors, predominantly red, blue, yellow, and white, intersected by bold black outlines. These forms appear to cascade and overlap, evoking the dynamic motion and structure of a staircase, yet abstracted through the lens of Tubism. The arrangement of shapes and lines conveys a sense of rhythm and depth, reflecting the industrial and modernist influences of the era. The juxtaposition of colors and the fragmented composition create a vivid, almost mechanical aesthetic, underscoring Léger’s exploration of the interplay between structure and movement within the urban environment.
