Fernand Léger

Fernand Léger – Cubism, Figurative Abstraction
Full name: Joseph Fernand Henri Léger

Nationality: French

Artistic movement: Avant-garde, Machine Age, Purism
Education: Académie Julian, École des Arts décoratifs de Paris

Influences: Paul Cézanne, Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso
Artistic career

Fernand Léger is one of the pioneers of Cubism in France. After studying architecture, he settled in Paris in 1900 and attended the Académie Julian. Influenced by Cézanne, he developed a personal style he called "Tubism," characterized by cylindrical shapes and bright colors. His participation in World War I (1914–1917) marked a turning point in his work, introducing mechanical forms and a stronger abstraction. In the 1920s, he explored the relationship between art and architecture, collaborating with Le Corbusier and designing sets for the Ballets Suédois. Exiled to the United States during World War II, he taught at Yale University and exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Upon his return to France, he continued working on monumental projects and mural works.
Major works

La Couseuse (1909–1910): Léger’s first Cubist painting, depicting a woman at a sewing machine.
Contraste de formes (1913): Iconic Cubist work exploring relationships between shapes and colors.
La Ville (1919): Monumental painting representing a modern city, symbolizing post-war reconstruction.
Le Mécanicien (1918): Stylized depiction of a worker, merging human and machine.
Les Constructeurs (1950): Series of paintings and sculptures highlighting collective work and construction.
Les Femmes au perroquet (1951): Late work illustrating sensuality and color.
Stained glass models for the Church of Audincourt (1950): Project combining abstraction and spirituality.
Les Quatre cyclistes (1943–1948): Series exploring movement and dynamics of the human body.
Le Transport des forces (1937): Monumental painting commissioned for the Paris International Exhibition, illustrating human and mechanical energy.
La Joconde aux clés (1930): Reinterpretation of the Mona Lisa with modern elements.
Style and influences

Léger developed a unique style blending abstraction and figuration. His works are characterized by simplified forms, primary colors, and black outlines, inspired by mechanics and architecture. He aimed to make art accessible to the general public by incorporating everyday life elements and using varied media such as painting, ceramics, stained glass, and sculpture.
Recognition and legacy

The Fernand Léger National Museum, inaugurated in 1960 in Biot, houses a rich collection of his works. Léger is also exhibited at the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. His influence is noticeable in the Pop Art movement, particularly among artists like Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol.
Quote

"Color is a vital need."