Fernand Leger

Happy Birthday Fernand Leger!! French artist born in 1881, Leger studied art at Ecoles des Arts Decoratifs and Academie Julian. He became one of the three major Cubist painters with Picasso and Braque. His work contrasted human forms with machines. He gradually moved away from abstraction and began painting simple forms in bold bright colors. European art was introduced to the American public in 1913 at the Armory Show where he was a major success. Following World War II, Leger settled in New York where he taught at Yale, but returned to Paris to open an academy. The painting I have included today is titled The City, with Leger attempting to depict the shallow crowded space of a city.

Cubism can be thought of as the beginnings of abstract art. Originated by Picasso and Braque, natural or inanimate objects are faceted into geometric shapes, losing nearly all resemblance to reality. Multiple views are shown in an effort to depict the object, scene, etc. in entirety.