Fernand Léger (1881-1955) was a pioneering French painter, sculptor, and filmmaker, often associated with Cubism. Born in Argentan, France, Léger began his artistic journey in architecture and later transitioned to painting, eventually becoming one of the prominent figures of the avant-garde movement in the early 20th century.
His style is marked by an affinity for the geometric, with a consistent use of bold colors and a heavy emphasis on the mechanization and modernization of society. In Léger’s works, human figures, machinery, and landscapes are often rendered with tubular and robotic forms, reflecting the influence of the industrial age. His interest lay in the abstraction of the human form into cylindrical shapes and the rhythmic patterns these forms created.
Léger was deeply influenced by the Cubist movement, especially by the works of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. However, he developed a more abstract and bold approach, termed “Tubism”. Over time, he integrated elements of abstraction and even some elements of surrealism.
Fernand Léger’s inspirations were drawn from the bustling urban life, the rise of technology, and the rapidly changing world of the early 20th century. Artists with a similar style and interest in mechanization and abstraction include Joseph Stella and Amédée Ozenfant. Léger’s legacy remains as one of the trailblazers who bridged the gap between abstraction and the depiction of modern life.
Useful Links
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernand_Léger
https://www.wikiart.org/en/fernand-leger
