Fernand Leger

Style: Cubism; Modernism; Purism; Tubism; Naive Art / Primitivism; Surrealism; Abstract Art; Suprematism; Orphism; Constructivism;

Place: Argentan

Born: 1881

Death: 1955

Biography:

Early Life and Training

Fernand Léger

, a French painter, sculptor, and filmmaker, was born on February 4, 1881, in Argentan, Orne, Lower Normandy. His father raised cattle, and Léger initially trained as an architect from 1897 to 1899. He then moved to Paris in 1900, supporting himself as an architectural draftsman.

Artistic Development

Léger's early work was influenced by Impressionism, as seen in Le Jardin de ma mère (My Mother's Garden) (1905). After attending the School of Decorative Arts and the Académie Julian, he began to work seriously as a painter at 25. His style evolved into a personal form of Cubism, which critics termed "Tubism" for its emphasis on cylindrical forms.

Cubism and the Puteaux Group

In 1910, Léger exhibited at the Salon d'Autumn in the same room as Jean Metzinger and Henri Le Fauconnier. He joined the Puteaux Group, also known as the Section d'Or (The Golden Section), along with other artists like Francis Picabia and Marcel Duchamp.

War and its Influence on Léger's Work

Léger's experiences in World War I significantly impacted his work. During his time at the front, he produced sketches of artillery pieces, airplanes, and fellow soldiers. His painting Soldier with a Pipe (1916) reflects this period.

Later Work and Legacy

Léger's post-war work, characterized by sleek, machine-like forms, linked him to the tradition of French figurative painting. His paysages animés (animated landscapes) of 1921 showcased figures and animals in harmonious, streamlined forms.

Key Works: