The artwork titled “Fourth state, church of Assy” by Fernand Leger was created in 1947. This piece is associated with the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement and can be classified within the genre of design. The dimensions of the artwork are 46.5 x 100 cm. It is currently housed in the Musee National Fernand Leger, located in Biot, France.
The artwork exhibits a bold and stylized depiction of an architectural element, likely the gable end of a church. The use of primary colors—blue, yellow, and red—is prominent, alongside white and black accents that create contrast and define geometric shapes. At the center is an abstract representation of a figure, possibly a saint or an angel, set against a background of interlocking shapes that could be interpreted as stained glass windows or decorative elements typical of a church façade.
The figure is haloed with a white motif resembling radiating light or a spiritual aura. The composition is grounded in strong outlines and flat planes of color, characteristic of Leger’s style, which often melded elements of cubism with a distinctly modern sensibility. The surrounding patterns and designs are rhythmic and repetitive, creating a sense of harmony and order within the work.
Overall, the artwork exemplifies Leger’s reinterpretation of architectural forms through the lens of Naïve Art, integrating vivid colors and simplified shapes to achieve a powerful visual narrative. This distilled visualization of religious architecture reflects a modern perspective on traditional subjects, resonating with the innovative spirit of mid-20th-century art and design.
