Travail et sport (Work and sport)

This print, depicting designs for various pieces of furniture, was created by Charlotte Perriand. Perriand was a successful French architect and designer who produced works from 1927 to 1985. She designed this print early in her career, just two years after she began collaborating with influential architect Le Corbusier. From her artistic debut in a Parisian salon in 1927, Perriand’s clever and striking designs were received positively. Perriand later “stepped out of Le Corbusier’s shadow” and pursued success as an independent artist.

The furniture designs depicted in Travail et sport are distinctly modernist. Perriand places emphasis on straightforward geometry, and each item is primarily composed of square and circular forms. The furniture appears to be modular, with small, interchangeable stools and tables reflecting the ideal of utility espoused by modernist artists and schools such as the Bauhaus. The elemental blues, reds, and browns used in each item echo the primary colors. Perriand’s designs are dynamic; the concept for a phonograph table overlaps shelving with the base of the device, while the chair designs are supported by thin beams that nearly make the pieces appear as if they were floating.

Sources:

https://gagosian.com/quarterly/2020/02/12/essay-new-world-charlotte-perriand/

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/oct/07/charlotte-perriand-le-corbusier-design