Renowned architect Le Corbusier was not only a property designer but also an accomplished painter. Discover five lesser-known artworks of this trailblazer, including his introduction of a novel pictorial style.
Le Corbusier, renowned for his architectural masterpieces, also left an indelible mark on the art world with his lesser-known paintings. A departure from strict purist approaches, these works, such as "The Bull" (1958), showcase a more expressive and intuitive painting style.
Five lesser-known paintings by Le Corbusier, created during his involvement with the abstract art movement Cercle et Carré, are particularly noteworthy. These works, while specific titles are seldom cited, often showcase his interest in geometric abstraction, primary colours, and structural harmony.
Le Corbusier's art often mirrors his architectural focus, employing fundamental shapes like circles and squares, a reflection of his co-founding of the Cercle et Carré group with artists like Michel Seuphor and Joaquín Torres-Garcia. His paintings reveal the "soul behind the structures," extending his vision in architecture into his painting practice by exploring spatial relationships and harmony within a two-dimensional plane.
The paintings also show influence from contemporary artistic movements like Orphism and Constructivism, through their use of vibrant colour contrasts and abstract forms. This links the visual language of his paintings with broader trends in European avant-garde art of his time.
Minimalism and functionality are also key themes in Le Corbusier's paintings, much like his architectural work. His paintings convey minimalistic tendencies aimed at functional beauty, stripping away ornament to emphasize essentials—colour, shape, and composition.
One of his most notable works, "Woman Lying with Book, Glasses, and Stack of Plates" (1929), reinvents the female figure in a nearly sculptural style, with rounded forms and colour patches reminiscent of his architectural designs. "Still Life with Red Violin" (1919) features a combination of instruments and geometric forms, reflecting Le Corbusier's pursuit of "plastic harmony."
"Still Life" (1922), a collaboration with Amédée Ozenfant, embodies the purist style with its geometric representation of everyday objects. "The Dice Are Cast" (1960) is a significant work from Le Corbusier's later period, combining painting and collage to create a grand tapestry, with organic, biomorphic forms hinting at surrealist influence. "The Bull XVI" from the same series showcases powerful lines and warm colours, evoking Mediterranean culture.
In summary, Le Corbusier's lesser-known paintings are abstract and geometric, emphasizing structure and minimalism, directly reflecting his modernist architectural philosophy and the artistic milieu of early 20th-century Paris. These works serve as a bridge between his architectural theory and practice, underscoring his multifaceted creativity as both an architect and visual artist.
In the realm of art, Le Corbusier's lesser-known paintings, such as "The Bull XVI" (1960), demonstrate a connection with his architectural work, resonating a lifestyle rooted in minimalism and functional harmonies. This artistry also extends to home-and-garden aesthetics, where one might incorporate his geometric and vibrant color palette, drawing parallels with his in-flights of ideas from modernist architecture.
