The artwork titled “L’Isthme de Corinthe,” created by Jean Metzinger in 1928, is an allegorical painting that is part of the Purism art movement.
The artwork presents a vividly abstract and geometrically complex scene. Dominating the composition are two imposing, stylized humanoid forms, one rendered in shades of red and black, and the other in yellow and orange. These figures appear on either side of a narrow waterway, through which a steamship is navigating. The steamship, centered in the artwork, emits billowing clouds of smoke, contributing to the dynamic and lively atmosphere. Surrounding these central elements are vibrant, stylized plants with blue flowers, adding to the surreal and symbolic nature of the composition. The overall effect is one of striking contrast, between the rigid geometric forms and the flowing, organic shapes, evoking a harmonious yet thought-provoking representation of the Corinthian Isthmus.
