Fernand Leger was a French painter born on 4 February 1881 in Argentan, France. When Fernand’s artistic talents began to manifest at a young age, his parents sent him to apprentice with an architect. He got formal training at the Academie Julian and the Ecole des Arts Decoratifs. Subsequently, Leger exhibited at the Salon des Independants and the Salon d’Automne, where he won acclaim internationally.
After his service in the army during WWI, Leger experimented with several art techniques and mediums, such as Futurism, set and costume design, and book illustration. He also founded a free art school in the 1920s. To circumvent serving in the Second World War, Leger relocated to New York. In 1945, he returned to France, where he died on 17 August 1955.
What was Fernand Leger Known For?
Fernand Leger was known as one of the forerunners of the Cubism movement. He painted abstractions and figures, often combining both subjects in his artworks. Leger’s cubist works were distinguishable through the recurring presence of cylindrical forms and machine-sembling human figures.
Who was Fernand Leger Influenced By?
Paul Cezanne’s works influenced Fernand Leger’s painting style. Leger initially started painting with Impressionist methods but switched to Cubism after the 1907 retrospective exhibition of Paul Cezanne’s artworks. His friendship with Le Corbusier and his circle of friends influenced his introduction of machinery in his paintings.
What Art Movement was Fernand Leger Associated With?
Fernand Leger was associated with the Cubism art movement. Cubism is an art movement that involves using geometrical shapes and forms to depict figures and objects. In the early 1900s, Leger created his first works in this style and stuck to it throughout his career.
Fernand Leger Artwork
Leger’s works are in prestigious museums and collections worldwide. Below are some of them
Acrobats and clowns
Chimneys on Rooftops
Contrast of forms
Geometric standards
Mona Lisa with the keys
Propellers 2nd state
Soldier with a Pipe
Staircase 19
The Exit of the Russian Ballet
The Great Tug
The House under the trees
The Railroad Crossing
The City
Woman with a Cat
The great Julie
The Man in the Blue Hat
All Fernand Leger Artwork on Artchive
| Artwork Name | Year | Medium |
|---|---|---|
| Three Women | 1921 | Oil on Canvas |
| Nudes in the Forest | 1909 - 1910 | Oil on Canvas |
| Still Life with a Beer Mug | 1921 | Oil on Canvas |
| The City | 1919 | Oil on Canvas |
| Contrasted Forms | 1914 | Oil on Canvas |
| Smokers | 1911 - 1912 | Oil on Canvas |
| The Typographer | 1919 | Oil on Canvas |
