Fernand Leger

Born in Normandy, Leger was first apprenticed to an architect and subsequently worked as a draughtsman and photographic retoucher.

From 1903 he studied at the Ecole des Arts Decoratifs and the Academie Julien in Paris. Beginning in 1909, he associated with Picasso and Braque and was taken up by Picasso’s dealer, Kahnweiler.

Leger’s cubism was markedly different from that of Picasso or Braque. He adopted curvilinear and tubular forms, rather than the sharp and fragmented angularity they favoured. He developed an interest in the beauty of modern machinery and mass products.

During the First World War, he was gassed and nearly died, but it seems that social influences were even more important to his artistic development.

“I was abruptly thrust into a reality that was both blinding and new” he said, referring to his exposure to people from all social strata and walks of life.

 Leger became particularly interested in the lives of the working classes and he wanted his work to be accessible to people from all social backgrounds.

The artist spent the Second World War in the USA, where he taught at Yale and in California.

Although best known for his paintings and printmaking, Leger also designed for the ballet, was engaged in filmmaking, and designed huge murals for the United Nations in New York. He also opened a ceramics studio, designed stained glass windows and tapestries.

The Leger Museum is in Biot on the Cote d’Azur and work by this artist is held in most major public collections worldwide.