Poem of the Right Angle

The Poem of the Right Angle (Le poème de l'angle droit) is a series of 19 paintings and corresponding writings composed by the influential Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier between 1947 and 1953 and first published in book format as a limited edition of 250 copies in 1955. Aside from his seminal manifesto Toward an Architecture, The Poem of the Right Angle is considered to be his most lucid synthesis of personal maxims.^[1]

Introduction[edit]

The Poem of the Right Angle was composed over a period of seven years, from 1947 to 1953. The paintings are arranged symmetrically in seven rows, or "zones" and read across, in order, 5, 3, 5, 1, 3, 1, 1 such that the entire composition appears top-heavy and cross-like. Corbusier referred to this organization as an iconostase, or iconostasis. Each zone, lettered A-G, is assigned a title and corresponding color. Le Corbusier was very interested in classic themes of alchemy, and each piece, as well as the significance of its placement in the color-coded sets, draws from and illuminates the dialectic of opposites inherent in alchemical processes.^[2]

A. Milieu (Environment-Green)[edit]

Green is the alchemical symbol of the primal matter of the universe. Le Corbusier uses this zone as a taxonomy of natural cycles.

A.1. Representative of the cyclical nature of the sun

...the two rhythms

which regulate our destiny:

A sun rises

A sun sets

A sun rises again

A.2. Representative of the water cycle, an important part of alchemy and "a matrix for a dualistic universal confrontation."^[3]

      The level establishes where       stops the descent of the waters       to the sea       the sea daughter of droplets       and mother of vapors. And       the horizontal defines       the liquid content. 

A.3. Introduces earth symbol, cardinal symbols, and man as procreator. It also is the first passage that directly references the right angle, here as a symbol of life, living and "uprightness".

      Upright on the terrestrial plateau       of things perceptible to you       contract with nature a pact of solidarity: it is the right angle               Upright in front of the sea vertical       there you are on your legs. 

A.4. Uses figure-ground and heavy contrast to remark on the role of chaos in the divide between the conscious and unconscious

      The law of the meander is       active in the thoughts and       enterprises of men forming their       ever renewing avatars              But the trajectory gushes out       from the mind and is projected by       the clairvoyants beyond       confusion 

A.5. Very similar to the actual cover of the work, it is split down the middle and the clasped hands signal contradiction and reconciliation of opposites, which Corbusier stated were the only ways to ensure human survival. In a similar painting, the clasped hands symbolize the architect and the engineer working together.

      I have thoughts that two hands       and their interlocking fingers       express this right and       this left unrelentingly       unified and so necessary       to reconciliation.              The only possibility of survival       offered to life 

B. Esprit (Spirit-Blue)[edit]

This zone represents the links between nature, architecture and the cosmos.

B.2. "Le Modulor" - Corbusier's Modular Man, an iconic illustration of proportion, is juxtaposed with a shell, which Corbusier regarded as an archetypal female form. The shell form also embodies the same proportional values as the Modulor, based on the Golden section.

      Its value is in       this: the human body       chosen as admissible       support of numbers...       .....Here is proportion! 

B.3. This is an overly architectural frame. Floorplates and a foundation are clearly depicted, and an owl, a classic symbol of wisdom, is clearly visible in the foundation.

      Cleared of obstacles better       that before the house of       men mistress of his form       takes up her abode in nature              Complete in herself       making her case on all grounds       open to the four horizons 

B.4. Another architectural frame which illuminates the concept of the brise soleil through the sun above and the "secret world" below.

      The clock and the solar       calendar brought to       architecture the "brise-soleil"       installed in front of the windows of       modern buildings 

C. Chair (Flesh-Violet)[edit]

Corbusier's tribute to the flesh consists of more complicated figures representing the animal world and all of its creative capacities.

C.1.

      Some oxen of burden pass       every day in front of my window.       Because of being designed and redesigned       the ox - of pebble and of root       becomes bull. 

C.2.

      They are innumerable who       sleep but others know       to open the eye.              Because the profound refuge is       in the great cavern of       sleep that other side of       life in the night. 

C.3. This is the centerpiece of the iconostase, which Corbusier dedicated to his wife.

      Tenderness!       Shell the Sea has not ceased       to throw us the wreckage of       smiling harmony on the shores.              Hand kneads hand caresses       hand glides. The hand and the       sea love one another. 

C.4. The center line is quite overt, which may indicate that the image can also be recognized when turned 90°, a practice Le Corbusier was fond of.

      They are but       half, giving to       life only one half              And the second part comes       to them and fuses       And good or bad comes to them       the two              who met! 

C.5. The image of a woman's body with a unicorn's head is a motif that is also seen in the mural of Le Corbusier's Swiss Pavilion at the Paris University Campus (C.I.U.P.), as are 3 other plates from the Poeme.

      The galley sails       The voices singing on board       As all becomes strange       and is transposed       is transported high       and is reflected on       the plan of happiness 

D. Fusion (Red)[edit]

D.3.

      Do not overwhelm then he       who wants to take his part of the       risks of life - Let       the metals fuse       tolerate the alchemists who       besides leave you outside       the cause 

E. Caractère (Character-Clear)[edit]

The ascription of the "clear" color frames this zone, which represents light and will reborn in man.

E.2. The complex image of many women and a horse is achieved through phenomenal transparency and separation of color from line.

      The amazons are ready       to leave to go to come back and              to leave again and       to fight combat always       soldier.       The amazons are young       they do not grow old. 

E.3. This is the most reproduced image from the series. The motif of the clasped hands seen in A.5. is repeated, along with a crescent face, indicative of the moon.

      Categorical       right angle of the character       of the spirit of the heart.       I mirrored myself in this character         and found myself           found at home             found       Horizontal vision in front. 

E.4. This image recalls some of Le Corbusier's paintings from the 1930s. It is orthogonal, architectural and labyrinthine.

      Will appear I sense it       the splendor of brut concrete       and the grandeur which it will       have had to think the marriage       of lines              to weight the forms              To weight... 

F. Offre (Offering-Yellow)[edit]

F.3. The symbol of the open hand appears as an "offering", and the interior lines and contours reveal traits and hidden characteristics.

      It is open since       all is present available       seizable       Open to receive       Open also in order that each       comes there to take 

G. Outil (Tool-Purple)[edit]

G.3. The presentation of a "tool" is an analogy to the Philosopher's stone, both the solution and the question, thus establishing the cyclical nature of the work.

      one has       with a piece of coal       traced the right angle              the sign       It is the response and the guide              the fact              a response              a choice 

Notes[edit]

External links[edit]

• Fondation Le Corbusier page on the poem
• (Archived website) Images associated with the poems
• "Le Corbusier and the Sun". solarhousehistory.com.